Florida crash: 9 dead after private jet nosedives near homes in Palm Beach County, erupts in massive fireball
All nine people aboard a private business jet were killed after the aircraft crashed in a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon, bursting into flames near a major road and narrowly missing nearby homes.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the deaths on X, calling the incident a 'horrific tragedy'.
The aircraft, identified as a twin-engine Learjet 60, had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County.
According to officials, the jet went into a steep nose-dive shortly before hitting the ground near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North.
Videos recorded by motorists passing through the area captured the aircraft plunging towards the ground before slamming onto the road and triggering a massive explosion. The impact left a charred crater at the crash site, while thick plumes of black smoke rose into the sky and could be seen from several miles away.
Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and local fire departments, rushed to the scene to put out the blaze and secure the area. Authorities also shut down nearby roads in both directions.
The crash caused power outages in the immediate vicinity, with local workers reporting that electricity was disrupted for approximately two hours.
The aircraft came down dangerously close to residential properties, including a nearby mobile home community. However, authorities had not immediately confirmed whether any homes were significantly damaged or whether anyone on the ground was injured.
The identities of the nine people killed in the crash have not yet been released. Authorities are expected to notify their families before making the names public.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
NTSB investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, review available flight data and analyse air traffic communications as part of the investigation. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
