A Learjet 60 crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing nine people, authorities said.
what to know
- A Learjet 60 crashed into a Palm Beach County road on Sunday, killing nine people.
- The incident occurred at around 12:50pm in the Greenacres area
- The plane was traveling from Austin, Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation with support from the FAA.
- It was unclear if anyone on the ground was injured.
The plane took off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Crest Haven around 12:50 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Transport Minister Sean Duffy said all nine people on board died in the crash.
“The FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation,” Duffy said in a statement on social media. “Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost.”
The pilot of the plane that crashed in Palm Beach County reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and asked to climb 2,000 feet, according to the Associated Press.
Soon after, the plane began a steep dive, initially at 10,000 feet per minute and later reaching 30,000 feet per minute, exceeding its design limits, the Associated Press reported based on air traffic control records and flight tracking data.
A pilot declared an emergency and sent a distress signal. The plane banked sharply to the right and plunged violently into the ground.
A witness describes what he saw after a jet crashed in Crest Haven, Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis thanked first responders for their actions after a plane crash in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
“I’m grateful for the quick response here to stabilize the situation,” he said. “We don’t know, if they hadn’t stabilized like they did, more people might have been hurt… I mean, there were fires, there was all kinds of debris.”
A huge fireball erupted after the LearJet 60 crashed on a road near the residential area of Cresthaven.
“So they’ve done a really great job here with the fire and the sheriff’s department responding,” DeSantis said. “So on behalf of the state of Florida, I say thank you.”
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, law enforcement responded to a plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The plane that crashed in Palm Beach County appeared to have simply missed homes and crashed near a road in Crest Haven, the Associated Press reported.
It was unclear whether the incident caused any damage to the home.
The crash happened near Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Drivers are urged to find alternative routes.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed in a social media post that all nine people on board the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday were killed.
“Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we have lost,” he wrote.
Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida was a horrific tragedy, and here’s what we know: – A Learjet 60 crashed in a community near Crest Haven, Florida at 12:50 PM ET – Killing all 9 people on board – The plane took off from Austin, Texas, en route to — @FAANews and @USDOT are closely monitoring this crash and will share updates as we learn more
— Secretary of State Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 1, 2026
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This story originally appeared on NBCMiami.com.