Learjet crashes in Palm Beach County, killing all nine aboard
The plane was en route to the Bahamas when it descended rapidly through stormy weather, according to air traffic control recordings.
By Katherine Barnes ·
Nine people died Sunday afternoon when a Learjet 60 crashed and burst into flames near Military Trail in Palm Beach County, Florida. The incident marks the second deadliest aviation accident in the United States this year, trailing only a June crash in Butler, Missouri that claimed 12 lives.
The aircraft was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the Bahamas. FAA records indicate the jet is registered to a Delaware limited liability company and is listed for charter. Officials said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation.
Air traffic control recordings captured by LiveATC.net show the pilot reported accumulating ice and an outside air temperature of negative 47 degrees Celsius minutes before the crash. The pilot also noted moderate turbulence that bounced the plane by up to 700 feet. The pilot told the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center, “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence.”
Shortly after reporting precipitation and requesting a climb, the pilot declared an emergency. “We’re descending 8,000, mayday, mayday - we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed. The pilot continued, “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute … We are going to crash into the ground.”
Flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange indicates the jet lost 27,000 feet in one minute before the signal cut off. The crash site is located between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Video footage shows the road buckled into a crater where the aircraft impacted the ground.
The crash occurred about four miles south of the West Palm Beach airport, which was renamed for President Donald Trump earlier this year. Trump had departed the airport on Air Force One more than an hour before the crash. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the event as a “horrific tragedy.”
Scattered storms were present in the area, and the plane passed through a stronger storm cell shortly before the rapid descent. Authorities have not yet determined if the weather contributed to the crash. All lanes of Military Trail remain closed until further notice.
Source: KIVI-TV
