The Bahamas-bound business jet crashed near homes and a busy roadway after departing Austin, Texas, federal officials said.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed Sunday when the business jet plunged into a residential area of Palm Beach County after its crew reported turbulence and ice during a flight from Texas to the Bahamas, federal officials said.
The aircraft crashed about 12:50 p.m. near Cresthaven, close to Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed that all nine people aboard had died. Authorities had not publicly identified those aboard as of Sunday evening.
The crash sent emergency crews into a neighborhood near a heavily traveled road and left wreckage scattered around the impact area. Video recorded from nearby vehicles showed the aircraft descending steeply before striking the ground and erupting in flames. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured, although officials continued assessing the scene and surrounding properties.
Federal investigators had not determined what caused the crash. The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation, with the FAA providing support. The NTSB said it was sending investigators to the site, with members of its team expected to arrive Sunday and Monday morning. A media briefing in West Palm Beach was also planned for Monday.
Information reported from air traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data indicated the flight encountered worsening conditions before the crash. The aircraft was traveling east at about 35,000 feet when the crew reported turbulence, precipitation and ice and asked to climb another 2,000 feet. Soon afterward, the aircraft began a rapid descent, according to recordings and flight data reviewed by The Associated Press.
The pilot declared an emergency as the descent accelerated. Flight-tracking information indicated the jet was losing altitude at rates that increased from about 10,000 feet per minute to as much as 30,000 feet per minute. The aircraft also entered an overspeed condition before it went down. Those details describe the final moments of the flight but do not establish why the aircraft lost control, and investigators had not announced a cause.
Weather was poor across the region Sunday, with heavy rain affecting parts of South Florida. A flood watch was in effect through Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The pilot had reported ice accumulating on the aircraft and significant turbulence before the emergency. Investigators will determine whether weather, aircraft systems, crew actions or other factors played any role in the crash.
The impact forced authorities to close Military Trail in both directions between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Palm Beach County officials also began evacuating about 600 people from a nearby mobile home community while investigators secured the crash site. Officials said the roadway would remain closed as the investigation continued.
The FAA described the information released Sunday as preliminary. The agency said the Learjet carried nine people and confirmed its departure point, destination and approximate crash time. Federal officials referred questions about the identities of those aboard to local authorities, and no passenger or crew names had been released publicly.
The NTSB will examine the aircraft wreckage, flight information, weather conditions, communications and other evidence as it works to determine the probable cause of the crash. Investigators were continuing to arrive at the site Sunday evening, and additional information was expected after the federal team began its on-scene examination.
Author note: Last updated November 1, 2026.