Learjet 60 Crash in Palm Beach County: All 9 Aboard Killed as Jet Hits Greenacres Neighborhood

A business jet carrying nine people went down in a residential part of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1. Federal officials say everyone on board was killed. The Learjet 60 nose-dived near Military Trail in the Greenacres area west of West Palm Beach and burst into a fireball. It left a crater in the pavement close to homes and a shopping center.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard died, according to AP and USA Today. As of the latest reports Sunday afternoon, officials had not confirmed any deaths or injuries among people on the ground.

What happened in West Palm Beach

The Federal Aviation Administration said the jet crashed at about 12:50 p.m. ET. It had left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The FAA described its information as preliminary and subject to change.

The crash site is near Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, an area that includes a mobile home community. USA Today reported major destruction there, including fires and scattered debris.

ABC News, citing the FAA, said the 22-year-old twin-engine jet dropped from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in a little over a minute, roughly 350 feet per second, before it hit the ground. Photos and videos shared online appeared to show the jet striking the ground nose-first.

Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the scene and called the crash “cataclysmic,” WPTV reported. He said the aircraft looked “like a missile going down” and noted that the debris field stretched a significant distance. He also praised Palm Beach County first responders for how quickly they responded.

Learjet 60 tail number N722BD

The registration N722BD has been widely linked to the aircraft through public flight-tracking data, though officials have not detailed the jet’s ownership or operator. FlightRadar24 data described by CBS12 shows the route crossing the Gulf, entering Florida near Naples, continuing northeast across the state and then curving south over Palm Beach County before the crash.

Officials have not publicly identified the people on board, and this post will not speculate about who they were. Identification is normally handled by investigators and the medical examiner after families are notified.

Who is investigating the Learjet crash in Florida

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB is in charge and will release updates. No official cause has been announced.

Some early outside analysis has started to appear. An aviation consultant interviewed by CBS12, a Learjet type-rated captain, said thunderstorms in the area could have exposed the jet to severe turbulence and raised the question of a loss of control. He also stressed that this was unconfirmed. CBS12 noted that weather-related damage and an in-flight breakup have not been established. Readers should treat this as expert opinion, not a finding. NTSB investigations usually start with a preliminary report within weeks, and a final probable cause can take a year or more.

Road closures and evacuations in Palm Beach County

The crash has caused major disruption in the area:

• Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive is closed until further notice. Only emergency vehicles are allowed through, Palm Beach County said, per WPTV.
• Detours: The county asked drivers to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel, and Haverhill Road and Kirk Road for north-south travel.
• Relocations: County officials said about 600 people in a nearby mobile home community were expected to be relocated while authorities treat the site as an active scene. Two shelters were on standby, and Palm Tran was ready to transport residents.

What is a Learjet 60?

The Learjet 60 is a midsize business jet built by Learjet, a company that was part of Bombardier. It has two engines and is commonly used for private charter and corporate flights. Production of the model ended years ago, but many are still flying. The jet involved in Sunday’s crash was about 22 years old, according to ABC News.

Quick FAQ

Were there survivors? No. Officials say all nine people aboard died.

Was anyone on the ground hurt? As of Sunday afternoon, officials had not reported deaths or injuries on the ground.

Where was the plane going? From Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, according to the FAA.

What caused the crash? It is not known yet. The NTSB is leading the investigation.

This is a developing story. Details, including the number of people affected on the ground, may change as officials release more information.