GREENACRES, Florida | November 2, 2026 | A business jet carrying nine people crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, erupting into a massive fireball near a busy roadway and killing everyone aboard, as federal investigators examine reports of icing, turbulence and a rapid loss of altitude before the aircraft went down.
The Learjet 60 crashed at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time near Military Trail in Greenacres, close to the Cresthaven residential community. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard died. Their identities and the number of passengers and crew had not been officially released as of Monday.
Dashcam footage and videos recorded by motorists captured the aircraft plunging toward the ground before striking near the roadway and exploding. The impact left a large crater in the pavement, scattered debris across the surrounding area and sent thick black smoke into the air.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the crash site and described the incident as a major disaster. He said authorities had received no immediate reports of deaths or injuries among people on the ground.
Investigators are examining the aircraft’s final communications with air traffic controllers, which indicate that the situation deteriorated rapidly shortly before impact.
According to recordings captured by LiveATC.net and reviewed by The Associated Press, the pilot reported ice accumulating on the aircraft and moderate turbulence that caused it to fluctuate in altitude by as much as 700 feet. The crew was flying at approximately 35,000 feet when it reported precipitation and requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet.
Moments later, the aircraft entered a steep descent. The pilot reported losing altitude at 10,000 feet per minute before declaring an emergency and reporting an overspeed condition as the descent accelerated.
In one of the final radio transmissions, the pilot warned air traffic controllers, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”
Flight-tracking data and radio recordings indicate that the aircraft’s descent rate reached approximately 30,000 feet per minute. However, investigators have not determined whether icing, turbulence, mechanical problems, pilot response or a combination of factors contributed to the crash.
The FAA confirmed that it would assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the investigation. The NTSB dispatched an investigative team to the crash site and scheduled a media briefing in West Palm Beach on Monday.
Meanwhile, the disaster has disrupted nearby communities. Palm Beach County officials said approximately 600 residents of a neighboring mobile home community would have to be relocated while investigators examine the crash site. Shelters and transportation assistance were being arranged.
Military Trail remains closed between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive, with access restricted to emergency vehicles. County officials warned that the closure could continue for an extended period because of extensive roadway damage and the ongoing investigation. John I. Leonard High School was also scheduled to close on Monday because of the emergency response.
The Learjet 60, a twin-engine business jet developed by Learjet, received U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification in January 1993. The aircraft has been used for private and business transportation for more than three decades.
The cause of Sunday’s crash remains undetermined. Federal investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, maintenance records, flight data, weather conditions and cockpit communications as they work to establish what led to the fatal descent.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
