Private Learjet crashes in Florida: nine killed, pilots reported icing

A tragic aviation incident occurred in the southern United States: a private Learjet 60 jet crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County (Florida state). All nine people on board the aircraft were killed.

Final minutes of the flight

According to data from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft with registration number N722BD departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. Its final destination was supposed to be North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

At approximately 12:50 local time, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed near the city of Greenacres, close to the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The impact site is located near the entrance to the Green Acres Family Community residential complex.

Shortly before the crash, while at an altitude of approximately 10.7 km, the crew informed air traffic controllers of precipitation, moderate turbulence, and icing. The outside air temperature was approximately -47°C. The pilots requested permission to climb another approximately 610 metres to reach an area with calmer weather.

However, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The aircraft began to lose altitude sharply, and the crew declared an emergency. According to radio communication recordings, the rate of descent initially reached approximately 10,000 feet per minute and subsequently increased to 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot also noted that the aircraft had exceeded the permissible flight speed. In their final messages, the crew warned that the aircraft was approaching the ground and that there was no time left for rescue.

The Flightradar24 service recorded a vertical descent rate of over 32,000 feet per minute (approximately 585 km/h). Before impact with the ground, the aircraft made a sharp turn to the right and entered a steep dive.

Impact on residents

In published video footage, the aircraft can be seen falling almost vertically at high speed, followed by an explosion. A deep crater was formed, and a large-scale fire broke out around it.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis compared the plane crash to a missile, noting that the force of the impact created a significant crater near the road.

Resident Anthony Blackmon, who lived approximately 150 metres from the crash site, said that debris hit his house and that everything around was engulfed in flames. Another witness, Roger Forsell, reported that the plane flew so low over his home that the building trembled, after which a column of smoke appeared.

Due to the danger and the need to carry out rescue and investigative work, authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents of the adjacent residential complex. Two temporary shelters were organised for them, and Red Cross representatives were involved in providing assistance. Traffic on the section of Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North was closed in both directions.

Preliminary data indicates that there are no fatalities among people on the ground. Information on the injured is being clarified.

Investigation of the causes

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation together with FAA specialists. The main objective is to determine why the aircraft suddenly lost control and began to descend rapidly.

Weather conditions will be one of the areas of investigation. On the day of the crash, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds were observed in southern Florida. Experts assume that icing or turbulence may have affected the aircraft's controllability. The technical condition of the aircraft and the crew's actions will also be examined.

As of 2 November, the official cause has not been named. The NTSB has scheduled a briefing in West Palm Beach to announce the initial results. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

According to Aviation International News, the Learjet 60 was manufactured in 2004 and is registered to the company LR60271 LLC in Delaware state. This is the legal owner, but the identities of the passengers have not been established.

According to CNN, this incident has become the second deadliest aviation disaster in the US since the beginning of 2026.