A Learjet 60 flying from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas crashed and burst into flames, killing nine people. The crash occurred in Palm Beach County Florida on a residential street at around 12.50 p,m. on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1.
Deadliest crash involving a Learjet 60
According to data from the Flight Safety Foundation, the incident is the deadliest involving a Learjet 60. The crash killed all nine who were on board, however officials have not identified how many were passengers and crew. No one on ground was killed, although approximately 600 people are in need of shelter as the crash created significant debris, blocking the entrance to a mobile home park and preventing residents from entering. The crash site left a large crater, with rubble and smoke across the residential streets.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the aircraft “looked like a missile going down.”
The Learjet 60 is a mid-size business jet registered to a Delaware limited liability company and is listed online as available for charter.
Reports capture moments before crash
The pilot assured the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center that “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence” just minutes before the crash. Moments later, precipitation began to fall and after requesting to climb, an emergency was declared.
“We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot said, adding, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”
The aircraft descended roughly 27,000 feet in one minute, before slamming into the ground.
The plane passed through a storm a few minutes before its descent, however it is unclear if the storm contributed to the crash. The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) published a safety alert for flying in icing conditions, which it says pose major threats to private jets as it can “make managing the airplane’s flightpath and airspeed more difficult and can present the airplane from maintaining level flight.” The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB will continue to investigate and a news conference is planned for Monday.
Do you think investigators will be able to decipher what caused the aircraft’s sudden descent? Let us know in the comments below.
