Nine people were killed Sunday, November 1, when a private jet crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, erupting into flames near a busy roadway.
According to NBC News, the Learjet 60 was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft died.
The impact caused a large explosion, leaving debris scattered across the crash site. Emergency responders rushed to the area, while authorities closed nearby roads and evacuated approximately 600 residents as a precaution.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said no one on the ground was injured.
Before the crash, the pilot had reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation while flying through the region. However, officials have not determined whether weather conditions contributed to the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators are working to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
