The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Jet crashes in Florida, killing all 9 on board
The Learjet 60 was headed for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
A Learjet 60 crash in Florida resulted in the deaths of all nine people on board, according to officials.
The aircraft departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven around 12:50 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration reported.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine occupants died and described the event as a “horrific tragedy” on social media.
Witnesses and air traffic control audio described a rapid descent, with a person heard saying she was descending at 10,000 feet per minute and later at 20,000 feet per minute, followed by a scream as the jet appeared to crash.
Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the scene as “cataclysmic,” noting a large crater and debris scattered over a significant distance, but reporting no confirmed injuries or fatalities on the ground.
The aircraft is registered to a Delaware LLC, according to FAA records, and both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office indicated an aircraft incident was being investigated in the area of Military Trail, with northbound and southbound lanes closed pending further notice.