Nine people died on Sunday when a Learjet 60 business jet crashed into a road in a residential area in Florida. The US transport minister confirmed there were no survivors on board, while no one on the ground was injured.
The accident occurred at approximately 12:50 local time near Cresthaven, roughly 14 kilometres from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s estate in Palm Beach County. A large crater remained in the middle of the multi-lane road at the crash site, with aircraft debris and fire scattered across the pavement.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was flying to the Bahamas. Flight data analysis shows the jet was descending at high speed before impact, while cockpit voice recordings reveal what happened immediately prior to the crash.
Someone in the cockpit first reported moderate turbulence and stated that the crew was struggling with ice. The same person then reported that the aircraft was collecting precipitation and that they needed to climb to a higher altitude. Moments later, the same voice reported that the aircraft was descending at a rate of 3,000 metres per minute.
One of the crew members declared an emergency. A crew member shouted: "We are too fast, descending at 6,000 metres per minute" and added: "We are going to hit the ground". The final message from the cockpit, sent approximately 35 seconds after the initial distress call, was: "We have no more time".
An unverified video, apparently taken by a dashcam, was posted on social media showing the moment of the accident. The footage shows vehicles in a suburb, followed by the aircraft plunging almost vertically and exploding into a large fireball.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a press conference: "When you look at that video, the scene is devastating" and "It looks like a falling missile, followed by a huge explosion and debris flying everywhere." Governor Ron DeSantis and local officials announced that 600 residents of a nearby mobile home community were evacuated.
The impact caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including water pipes. Officials estimate the road will be closed for at least 30 days. Thunderstorms were recorded in the area at the time of the accident.
President Trump was at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday morning and departed on Air Force One from a nearby airfield approximately one hour before the aircraft crashed.
