Nine killed as business jet crashes in South Florida

A Learjet 60 business jet carrying nine people crashed in Palm Beach County, in South Florida, at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Everyone aboard was killed. The aircraft, which was heading to the Bahamas, hit the ground beside a busy road and close to homes, setting off a large fireball. The cause is unknown, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

What is known about the flight

The plane had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. An airport spokesperson, Jim Reynolds, said it was a private aircraft but could not give details about the passengers. Authorities have not said who was on board.

Air traffic control recordings and flight tracking data show the jet was flying east at 35,000 feet (about 11 kilometres) when the pilots reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and asked to climb another 2,000 feet. Moments later the aircraft entered a steep dive, descending at first at 10,000 feet per minute and then at up to 30,000 feet per minute, beyond its design limits.

Minutes before the crash, the pilot described the ice as light and manageable and the turbulence as moderate. The situation then deteriorated quickly, and he declared an emergency, saying: "We're going to crash into the ground." The plane banked sharply to the right and struck the ground at a steep angle.

Aftermath

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. County authorities are evacuating about 600 people from a nearby mobile home community, and the road will stay closed until further notice. Heavy rain fell across the region on Sunday, and the National Weather Service had issued a flood watch through Monday afternoon.