Florida [USA]: A private jet crashed in a residential area in South Florida on Sunday. All nine people on board were killed in the accident. A massive fireball erupted in the area after the crash, forcing emergency teams to close nearby roads.
US Transportation Secretary Expresses Grief Over Accident
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on the social media platform X that the plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, was deeply tragic. He confirmed that all nine people on board the Learjet 60 lost their lives.
According to Fox News, the plane crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, at around 12:50 p.m. The crash site is approximately nine miles from US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Plane was flying from Texas to the Bahamas
Sean Duffy reported that the plane had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed that the plane departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Duffy said the FAA is sending a team to the scene to assist in the investigation. He stated that the FAA and the US Department of Transportation are closely monitoring the accident and will share further information as it becomes available.
FAA and NTSB to investigate the accident
The FAA said in a statement that it and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the accident. The NTSB will be responsible for the investigation and will release updates on the matter.
According to a Fox News report, emergency teams have closed Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Local residents and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue described it as an extended emergency and urged people to avoid the affected area.
Videos of the accident surfaced on social media
Videos on social media showed the plane descending rapidly, followed by a loud explosion and thick smoke billowing from flames into the sky.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the Learjet reached an altitude of 41,000 feet after taking off from Austin. The plane later began descending near Naples, Florida, before briefly ascending again and making a sharp right turn at around 5:48 a.m. UTC.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate the cause and circumstances of the crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation.