A private Learjet 60 registered in Delaware crashed in Greenacres, Florida, on November 1, 2026, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft, which was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, nosedived at a speed of over 32,000 feet per minute before slamming into the ground at an estimated speed of 595km/h. The impact was so severe that it left a crater in the street and prompted the evacuation of around 600 people in the neighborhood.
According to air traffic control audio, the pilot declared a mayday and reported that the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot's final words captured were "The plane is going to crash into the ground." The aircraft had been experiencing weather and turbulence problems, and had climbed to a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet before beginning its descent. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators to the crash site.
Dashcam video captured the moment the plane crashed and exploded in a massive fireball. Witnesses described the crash as sounding like a bomb going off, with one resident initially thinking it was a missile. Another resident reported seeing no debris from the aircraft, suggesting the high speed at which the jet was traveling. The crash occurred in a residential area, and authorities have not released the identities of those on board.
The Learjet 60, registered as N722BD, had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas en route to the Bahamas. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the plane began descending near Naples, Florida, before making a brief climb again and entering a steep right-hand descent. The aircraft's last broadcast data showed it at nearly 9,000 feet before it nosedived.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but the steep dive and high speed at which the aircraft hit the ground suggest a catastrophic failure of some kind. The Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities are also assisting in the investigation.
The crash has raised concerns about the safety of private aviation, particularly in the context of charter flights. The Learjet 60 is a widely used business jet, and the circumstances of the crash will be closely examined by regulators and industry experts. The investigation is expected to take several months, if not longer.
The community in West Palm Beach is still reeling from the shock of the crash. Residents are trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of life, and the authorities are providing support to those affected. The site of the crash remains a crime scene, and officials are working to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.
Key points
- All nine people on board the private Learjet died in the crash.
- The aircraft nosedived at a speed of over 32,000 feet per minute before crashing.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.
