Learjet 60 Falls From 27,000 Feet, Killing All Nine in Florida Neighborhood
The private aircraft, which departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the Bahamas, descended rapidly before impacting a residential area near Cresthaven on Sunday.
By Leila Reynolds ·
All nine people aboard a private jet were killed when the aircraft crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The Learjet 60 struck the ground near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North around 12:50 p.m. local time. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities on X, stating that all individuals on board did not survive the impact.
The flight originated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with a destination of North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the aircraft was en route to the island nation when it went down. The FAA reported that the plane was a private craft, and officials are currently working to identify the victims.
Flight tracking data reveals a sudden and steep descent prior to the crash. The aircraft lost approximately 27,000 feet in altitude within a one-minute period before its signal terminated near Greenacres, Florida. This rapid drop preceded the impact in the neighborhood, which is located near the town of Cresthaven.
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, told the Associated Press that the plane was a private aircraft. He provided the tail number N722BD to reporters. Reynolds described the incident as a definite tragedy but noted that he could not immediately provide specific details regarding the identities of the passengers and crew members on the flight.
The crash site is situated in a developed residential zone. It remains unclear whether the impact caused structural damage to nearby homes or if any bystanders were injured in the incident. Local authorities are assessing the scene for potential secondary effects from the collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash. The FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the NTSB's inquiry. Both agencies are closely monitoring the situation and plan to share updates as more data becomes available.
Secretary Duffy urged the public to join in prayers for the families and loved ones of those who died in the accident. He emphasized that the Department of Transportation and the FAA are actively engaged in the response. The investigation aims to determine why the jet descended so rapidly and why it failed to maintain its flight path.
