- The crash occurred in a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida.
- All nine passengers aboard the Learjet were killed.
Updated 13 min 55 sec ago
November 2, 2026 10:21
CHICAGO: By Julie Ingwersen — CHICAGO, Nov 1 — A Learjet crashed Sunday afternoon in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board, U.S. transportation officials said.
The private jet had departed from Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement.
Videos posted on social media show the aircraft impacting the ground next to a road and exploding.
“It was a big‑time tragedy that happened,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a press conference near the crash site in Lake Worth Beach. “When you see that video, it’s a jarring thing. It was like a missile coming down, and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the incident, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described as a “horrific tragedy.”
FAA records identify the aircraft—a Bombardier Learjet 60—as owned by a Delaware corporation. Bombardier, based in Canada, said it would fully support the inquiry and cooperate as needed. The impact left a “massive crater” by the road near the entrance to a mobile‑home park, according to Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, who also reported that about 600 residents were evacuated and relocated to two county shelters.
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were affecting the area at the time, AccuWeather said. An audio recording from a Miami air‑traffic‑control center, posted on LiveATC, captures the plane’s final moments in unusual detail.
Initially, a cockpit voice reported “we’re managing the ice” while encountering “moderate” turbulence and seeking “better rides.” Less than a minute later, the crew declared “Mayday, mayday,” indicating a sudden descent at 10,000 feet per minute.
Seconds later, the descent rate accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute, prompting an emergency declaration. About 20 seconds after the first mayday, the pilots said, “We’re going to crash into the ground,” with the descent rate reaching 22,000 feet per minute as the aircraft began banking. Approximately 35 seconds after the initial mayday, the last transmission was a rapid “We’re out of time.”
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the vertical descent at one point exceeding 32,000 feet per minute.
