All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 plane died in a “cataclysmic” crash in Florida Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The flight, which departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, crashed near Cresthaven, a residential area in Palm Beach County, around 12:50 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people on the flight had died. He called the accident a “horrible tragedy” on social media, adding: “Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we have lost.”
The identities of those on board have not been released.
The video showed a crater in the middle of a road engulfed in flames.
Over a distressing sound from air traffic control, a woman says: “Mayday, mayday. We’re going down at 10,000 feet per minute.”
Later, she screams frantically, saying the plane was descending at 20,000 feet per minute.
“We are going to crash the 722 Bravo Delta into the ground,” he can be heard saying, followed by a scream.
Only about two minutes earlier, she had reported feeling “light, clear ice” but said it was “manageable” and she described “moderate turbulence.” She later reported, “We’re picking up precipitation” and requested to go to altitude.
A flood watch was in effect Sunday across South Florida, with numerous scattered showers and thunderstorms expected to continue through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the accident “cataclysmic.”
“It looked like a missile coming down. It left a big crater on the side of the road,” DeSantis told reporters after the crash.
He said the crash had spewed a large amount of debris that extended a “fairly significant distance” but there was no information that anyone on the ground had been injured or killed.
The plane is registered with a Delaware limited liability company, according to FAA records.
The Learjet’s manufacturer, Bombardier, said in a statement that the company was “deeply saddened by this tragic event and extends our deepest condolences to all those affected.”
“We cannot comment on the potential cause of this accident until the investigation is complete and we will fully support the investigating authorities and cooperate if necessary,” Bombardier said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said a plane incident was under investigation in the Military Trail area and all northbound and southbound lanes were closed until further notice.
Residents of a mobile home park near the wreck site were being evacuated, said Palm Beach County 3rd District Commissioner Joel Flores.
“We have about 600 people and we need to make sure they find shelter tonight,” he said.
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