Learjet 60 kills nine in South Florida crash after pilot reports ice and 20,000 ft/min descent
The aircraft crashed into the Green Acres neighborhood southwest of West Palm Beach, prompting the evacuation of 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed into the Green Acres neighborhood in South Florida on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft, which was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, hit the ground near West Palm Beach and exploded, creating a fiery crater.
The pilot reported accumulating ice and severe turbulence before the crash. Air traffic control recordings show the pilot stating the jet was experiencing 'light, clear ice' and 'moderate turbulence.' The pilot noted that turbulence was jolting the aircraft by up to 700 feet.
The situation deteriorated rapidly as the pilot requested to climb another 2,000 feet before declaring an emergency. The pilot radioed that the jet was descending at 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot concluded with the statement, 'We’re going to crash into the ground,' before the plane banked right and struck the pavement.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. He described the impact as a 'cataclysmic plane crash' that looked like a missile going down. Authorities have not released the names of the nine victims.
Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, told WTVJ that debris hit his house and the road caught fire. He said he had never imagined the event would happen so close to him. Palm Beach County officials evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash. NTSB officials are scheduled to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday. Rain was falling in the region at the time of the accident.
