The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
‘Mayday, mayday.’ A flight from Texas to the Bahamas ended in tragedy. What investigators are examining
It took about 90 seconds for a routine report of ice and turbulence to be replaced by a desperate âMayday, mayday!â and then silence, as a private jet plunged more than 27,000 feet over the course of one minute toward a Florida roadway.
A private Learjet 60 carrying nine people from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas plunged into a Palm Beach County roadway, killing all aboard and injuring one person on the ground, authorities say.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have begun examining the crash site and aircraft components, with emphasis on wreckage recovery, potential pre-impact breakup, and whether a cockpit voice recorder was on board.
The aircraft descended from about 35,000 feet, and air traffic control communications captured a Mayday followed by warnings of an overspeed and an imminent crash, according to the material provided.
The crash occurred on Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, creating a crater and causing major damage to the roadway and nearby properties as residents looked on.
Weather and icing are focal points of the inquiry, as the pilot reported ice accumulation and the presence of a strong cell; investigators will assess whether icing contributed to the rapid descent.
A large number of local residents were displaced, with shelters opened and emergency funds being considered while authorities gather evidence and continue the investigation.