All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed after the business jet crashed into a residential area in Florida’s Palm Beach County on Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed.
The aircraft crashed near Cresthaven at around 12.50 PM local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
“All 9 people on board were killed,” Duffy wrote on X, calling the incident a ‘horrific tragedy’. He said the FAA would send personnel to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the investigation.
Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida is a horrific tragedy
Here’s what we know:
– At 12:50 PM ET, a Learjet 60 crashed in a neighborhood near Cresthaven, FL
– All 9 people on board were killed
– The aircraft departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas
– The FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the @NTSB’s investigationPlease join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost — @FAANews & @USDOT are closely monitoring this crash and will share updates as we learn more
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 1, 2026
Authorities had not identified the victims or confirmed the number of passengers and crew. They had also not established the cause of the crash.
The aircraft went down near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Television footage showed flames, thick smoke and debris scattered across the road and nearby homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the impact as ‘cataclysmic’. He said the aircraft appeared like a missile before hitting the ground and leaving a large crater beside the road.
DeSantis said officials had received no reports of casualties or injuries on the ground. He also praised emergency responders for their swift action.
Palm Beach County officials said around 600 residents near the crash site might need temporary accommodation. Authorities placed two shelters on standby and arranged transport, while the American Red Cross offered assistance.
The NTSB sent an investigative team to Florida and scheduled a media briefing in West Palm Beach for Monday.
CNN, citing air traffic control recordings, reported that the pilots had mentioned icing, turbulence and precipitation shortly before the aircraft entered a steep descent. Investigators have yet to establish whether weather conditions contributed to the crash.
The twin-engine Learjet 60, manufactured by Bombardier, will undergo detailed examination as investigators analyse wreckage, flight records and weather data to determine the probable cause.
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