Nine killed as private jet crashes near homes and busy road in Florida
All nine people aboard a private jet were killed when the aircraft plunged into a residential neighborhood in South Florida on November 1, narrowly missing homes and passing vehicles before exploding near a busy roadway, the Associated Press reported.
The Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to the Bahamas.
According to AP, the pilots reported turbulence while flying at an altitude of approximately 11 kilometers before the aircraft entered a steep dive.
During the descent, the jet reportedly reached speeds of around 500 kilometers per hour, exceeding its design limits.
"We're descending at 10,000 feet a minute," one of the pilots radioed before reporting an even faster descent of 20,000 feet per minute and warning that the aircraft was about to hit the ground.
Dashcam footage captured the aircraft plunging toward the ground and exploding on impact. The crash left a crater in the pavement, with debris and flames scattered near homes and passing vehicles.
Duffy called the crash a "horrific tragedy."
The Federal Aviation Administration is sending investigators to assist the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.