Nine Killed in Learjet Crash in Palm Beach County

The Learjet 60 went down around 12:50 p.m. near Military Trail in Greenacres, a Palm Beach County community. It had departed Austin, Texas, and was headed to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The crash site is about nine miles from Mar-a-Lago.

The aircraft plunged steeply and struck near a busy road, leaving a crater and scattered wreckage as flames and thick smoke rose from the scene. Video showed the jet dropping toward the ground before the impact. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described it as resembling a missile coming down.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard died. Officials had no immediate reports of deaths or injuries on the ground. About 600 people were being evacuated from a nearby mobile-home community, and Military Trail was closed. Local officials said the crash damaged infrastructure, including water lines, and the road could remain closed for at least 30 days.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, with the NTSB leading the inquiry. Flight communications captured before the crash included reports of icing, turbulence and a rapid descent, followed by an emergency call. The cause has not been established.