Update (4:41 p.m. EDT, Sunday): All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 business jet were killed when the aircraft crashed into a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed.
The plane had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
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Update (3:56 p.m. EDT, Sunday): A Learjet 60 business jet carrying nine people crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Bahamas-bound aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
Authorities have not yet provided details on whether anyone on board survived the crash. It also remains unclear whether anyone on the ground was injured.
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Initial report (Published 2:31 p.m. EDT, Sunday): A small plane crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. According to flight-tracking data, the aircraft was identified as a Learjet 60 (N722BD), a business jet.
ADS-B data indicate that the flight departed from Austin, Texas. The aircraft reportedly entered a rapid descent over West Palm Beach before crashing onto S. Military Trail in Greenacres.
Videos surface
Videos circulating on social media show burning debris and flames at the crash site. Another video appears to capture the aircraft’s rapid vertical descent moments before impact. The number of people on board and whether anyone was injured remain unknown.
Power outage reported
Some witnesses claimed on social media that the plane struck a power line before crashing into a trailer park. Power lines are also reportedly down in the area. However, authorities have yet to confirm these reports or release an official statement on the incident.
Witnesses report loud explosion
Several witnesses and local residents took to social media to describe the crash, reporting a loud explosion, power outages and emergency vehicles rushing to the scene.
One witness reported, “Big explosion 10 mins from me. Everyone saying they saw a dropped from the sky and there’s a huge hole. So crazy! Greenacres, FL.”
Another resident asked, “Anyone know what’s going in Greenacres? We lost power after a loud boom and can hear dozens of ambulances and fire trucks.”
One more resident wrote, “My sister is out there an heard it she said the house shook.”
Another person reported, “This is like a mile from my families house they heard something as loud as a jet engine go overheard and then heard then crash and explosion.”