Nine Killed in Learjet Crash Near West Palm Beach

The twin-engine business jet crashed near South Military Trail and Marilyn Drive in Palm Beach County, leaving a crater and scattered wreckage. Dashcam footage showed the plane striking the ground and erupting in flames. All nine people aboard were killed, officials said.

In cockpit audio, the pilot told air traffic control the aircraft was descending rapidly and declared an emergency. The pilot reported an overspeed condition and said the plane was descending at 20,000 feet per minute. A controller responded, “I’m here with you, talk to me.”

The audio also captured the pilot mentioning ice on the windows after turbulence, according to one account. The aircraft had passed through a storm cell minutes before the crash. The cause has not been established, and it remains unclear whether weather played a role.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was headed for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the FAA assisting.

The impact site was near homes and businesses and blocked access to a mobile home park, leaving about 600 people without shelter on Sunday. Nathalia Gadelha, the 20-year-old co-pilot, was named as one of the victims; her mother and stepfather confirmed her identity. Officials had received no immediate indication that anyone on the ground was injured.