Learjet Plunges Through Icing to Kill Nine in South Florida Crash
Aircraft descended at 30,000 feet per minute after reporting ice accumulation and severe turbulence.
By Harper Collins ·
A business jet crashed into a residential area in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The Learjet 60 struck the ground near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m., creating a large crater and a fireball that threatened nearby homes.
Air traffic control recordings indicate the aircraft was cruising at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported light ice and moderate turbulence. The pilot stated the ice was manageable, but the situation deteriorated rapidly after the jet encountered precipitation and requested a climb of 2,000 feet. Minutes later, the plane entered a steep dive, accelerating to a descent rate of 30,000 feet per minute.
The pilot declared an emergency and radioed that the aircraft was in an overspeed condition. "We're descending 8,000, mayday, mayday, we're descending 10,000 feet per minute," the pilot said. The crew later transmitted, "We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute," before acknowledging, "We're going to crash into the ground."
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the event as a horrific tragedy. The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. The NTSB stated that investigators were expected to arrive at the site on Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. He described the scene as a cataclysmic plane crash that looked like a missile going down. Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community while the road remained closed.
The aircraft departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo noted that icing and turbulence could have caused the plane to stall. He said investigators would consider how the pilot responded to the weather conditions but would not rule out other factors at this stage.
