Learjet 60 Plunges at 30,000 Feet Per Minute Before Impact in Greenacres
All nine occupants of the business jet were killed when the aircraft hit the ground near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday.
By Petra Murphy ·
A private Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board.
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas. It hit the ground in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m. local time. The impact created a large crater near a busy roadway. The jet erupted into a fireball. Thick black smoke rose from the site. Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community.
The crash followed a rapid loss of altitude that began while the plane was cruising at 35,000 feet. Pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation to air traffic control. They requested permission to climb 2,000 feet. Shortly after receiving the request, the plane entered a steep dive. Flight tracking data showed the descent rate increasing to 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000, and finally 30,000 feet per minute. This speed exceeded the aircraft's design limits. The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. The plane banked sharply to the right before striking the ground.
Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the pilot's communications during the final minutes. The pilot noted light clear ice and moderate turbulence. The pilot stated that the ice was manageable. As the descent rate accelerated, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was descending 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot then reported an overspeed condition while descending 20,000 feet per minute. The final transmission acknowledged that the plane was going to crash into the ground.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the death toll on X. He described the event as a horrific tragedy. The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene. He said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. He described the crash as cataclysmic, noting that it looked like a missile going down.
Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert, suggested that icing and turbulence could have contributed to the incident. He noted that these factors might have caused the plane to stall while cruising. The NTSB will examine all potential factors, including the pilot's response to the weather conditions. Investigators are not ruling out any causes at this early stage.
The National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect for the region due to excessive rainfall through Monday afternoon. Rain was falling in the area when the crash occurred. The roadway near the crash site remains closed until further notice. Palm Beach County sheriff's officials identified the specific location as Greenacres, a city of 45,000 people located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.
NTSB investigators were scheduled to arrive at the crash site on Sunday and Monday. A media briefing is planned for Monday in West Palm Beach. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the jet was a private aircraft. He did not provide details about the passengers or crew on the flight.
