Nine killed as Learjet 60 slams into Palm Beach County street
The business jet crashed near Cresthaven at 12:50 p.m. ET while en route from Texas to the Bahamas, according to the FAA.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
A Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing everyone on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported the aircraft hit the ground near a roadway in Cresthaven at approximately 12:50 p.m. ET. The crash site is located near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Local officials urged drivers to find alternate routes to avoid the congested intersection.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the death toll in a social media post. He stated that all nine individuals on the plane died in the incident. Duffy asked the public to pray for the families and loved ones of the victims. The FAA announced that it is dispatching a team to the scene to assist the National Transportation Safety Board with its investigation.
The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. Its intended destination was North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The Learjet 60 is a medium-sized business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. The model features a length of 58 feet and a maximum range of just over 2,400 nautical miles.
According to aviation data, the jet has a maximum occupancy of two crew members and eight passengers. The capacity matches the nine people reported on board at the time of the crash. The plane appeared to narrowly miss nearby homes as it descended. The Associated Press reported that the jet crashed close to a road, leaving the extent of damage to surrounding properties unclear at the time of the report.
Witnesses described a massive fireball upon impact. The crash occurred in a neighborhood, raising immediate concerns about nearby residents. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the accident as the NTSB leads the probe with FAA support. The FAA and the Department of Transportation are closely monitoring the situation and plan to share updates as more information becomes available.
The incident is one of the recent business jet accidents in the state. The aircraft's flight path from Texas to the Bahamas places the crash site within a common corridor for private aviation in the region. The specific model involved, the Learjet 60, is widely used for corporate and private travel due to its size and range. The crash site remains active as investigators collect data from the wreckage and surrounding area.
Local traffic patterns have shifted to accommodate the investigation and emergency response efforts. Residents near the crash site were advised to stay informed through local channels. The FAA team will work alongside NTSB investigators to examine flight data and physical evidence. The goal is to establish a timeline of events leading up to the crash at 12:50 p.m.
