A Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed in Greenacres, in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, after a dramatic nose-down descent, erupting in a fireball on impact near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, about six miles from Mar-a-Lago. The aircraft, registered N722BD, had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas for North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) in the Bahamas. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that everyone aboard died, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured.
The pilots had reported icing and turbulence before the sudden descent, according to the reports, and the crash occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time. The impact left a crater in the roadway, damaged power lines and water mains, and closed Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North while emergency crews responded. About 600 nearby residents were evacuated to shelters, and a local school was closed on Monday.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, and investigators will examine the aircraft's maintenance history, engine performance, flight-control systems, weather conditions and recorded flight data. The identities of those aboard had not immediately been released, and no cause has yet been established.