The Bahamas-bound business jet crashed near a residential community Sunday, forcing evacuations as federal investigators headed to the scene.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Nine people were killed Sunday when a Learjet 60 traveling from Texas to the Bahamas crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, federal and state officials said. Authorities reported no known injuries on the ground as emergency crews secured a wide debris field and evacuated nearby residents.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the business jet crashed near Cresthaven about 12:50 p.m. Nov. 1. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed. Authorities had not released their identities or said how many were passengers and how many were crew members.
The crash occurred near Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, close to residential properties and a mobile home community. Images and video from the area showed a large emergency response, damaged pavement, scattered debris and fires following the impact. Palm Beach County authorities closed Military Trail in both directions while firefighters, deputies and other responders worked at the scene.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the area and said officials had received no reports of people on the ground being killed or injured. The crash nevertheless disrupted the surrounding neighborhood, and local officials said hundreds of residents needed temporary shelter as authorities restricted access around the impact area. Emergency crews continued checking nearby properties while investigators prepared to examine the wreckage.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The FAA said its initial information was preliminary and could change as investigators gathered more evidence. Officials had not announced a finding linking the crash to weather, mechanical problems, pilot actions or any other possible factor, and no final conclusions about what caused the aircraft to go down had been released Sunday.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with support from the FAA. The NTSB said it was sending a team of investigators to Florida, with members expected to arrive Sunday and Monday. Investigators are expected to document the crash site, examine aircraft components and collect other evidence before issuing preliminary information. A final determination of probable cause typically comes later in the investigative process.
The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business jet used for corporate and private travel. Federal officials identified the aircraft type and confirmed that nine people were aboard, but they had not publicly identified the victims by Sunday evening. Officials also had not released details about the purpose of the flight beyond its route from Austin to North Eleuthera.
The crash left authorities managing both the aviation investigation and the immediate effect on the neighborhood. Local officials asked people to stay clear of the area while Military Trail remained affected by the emergency response. Residents displaced from nearby homes were being directed to temporary shelter as officials assessed when the area could safely reopen.
The NTSB investigation remained in its early stages Sunday night, with the cause of the crash undetermined and the identities of those killed still pending public release. Federal investigators were expected to provide additional information after examining the scene and gathering records connected to the flight.