Private Learjet 60 crashes in Florida, killing all nine people on board
A private Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, 1 November, killing all nine people aboard. The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause.
A private Learjet 60 aircraft crashed into the ground in Palm Beach County, in the US state of Florida, on Sunday, 1 November. All nine people on board died. Dashboard cameras in cars captured the final moments of the plane, and the footage has been published by media outlets. The cause has not been determined, and the investigation continues.
The flight and the crash
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft went down at about 12:50 p.m. local time in a residential area near Cresthaven. It had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. According to Euronews, the impact happened near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, in the Greenacres area.
The videos show the plane falling steeply, followed by a fireball and thick smoke. The last minutes were also recorded in communications with air traffic control. Reuters reports that the cockpit initially reported icing, which the crew said it was handling, and moderate turbulence. The pilots were looking for calmer flying conditions, but soon afterwards a "Mayday" distress call was heard. The crew reported that the aircraft was losing altitude at 10,000 feet per minute, and a few seconds later at 20,000 feet per minute. A warning was also heard over the radio: "We are going to crash into the ground." Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters indicate the vertical rate of descent at one point exceeded 32,000 feet, or roughly 9.8 kilometres, per minute.
Consequences on the ground
The impact left a large crater near the roadway, and debris was scattered across the area. Local resident Anthony Blackmon told NBC 6 that debris hit his house and flames were all around. Television station CBS12 reported on Monday that there was no information about injuries on the ground. About 600 people from a neighbouring mobile home community had to be evacuated. Part of Military Trail remains closed.
Victims and investigation
The New York Post reports that the family of Natalia Gadelya, a 20-year-old second pilot, confirmed she was on the aircraft. She obtained her private pilot licence at the age of 17. The full list of victims has not yet been published in verified sources.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating, assisted by the FAA. Icing and turbulence are relevant circumstances for the inquiry, but there is currently no basis to declare them the proven cause of the crash.
