November 5, 2026, 8:35 p.m. ET
Federal investigators discovered part of an engine from the wreckage of a business jet that crashed in South Florida as excavation work continued at the crash site on Nov. 5, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
The Learjet 60, which departed Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas, crashed into a community Nov. 1 in Palm Beach County. Authorities said all seven passengers and two crew members were killed, while one person on the ground was injured in the leg.
The accident scattered debris across the area, sparked fires and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents living near the impact site. The NTSB began excavation work late Nov. 4 and continued through Nov. 5, uncovering part of an engine and additional debris located beyond the main crash site, the agency said in an update.
The NTSB said debris was also found on the roofs of nearby homes and buildings. All recovered wreckage will be transported to a safe location for further examination while investigators work to determine the cause of the accident. The agency urged residents who may have discovered plane debris to contact the NTSB rather than retain, move or dispose of items.
“Even small pieces of the wreckage may contain important evidence that could help investigators determine what happened,” the NTSB said in a statement posted on social media. “Recovering all available wreckage is essential to the investigation and helps determine the cause of the accident.”
Despite early progress, it will likely take time to determine the cause of the accident. The NTSB generally aims to complete an investigation within one to two years, according to its website, but certain factors can affect that time frame.
“Significant” evidence discovered in fatal plane crash
The latest update comes after investigators spent days removing water from the impact crater, which filled with rainwater after severe weather passed through the area when the jet fell. NTSB member Thomas Chapman previously said investigators expected to find critical components of the plane buried in the crater.
The investigation has already revealed what Chapman described as a “very important piece of evidence”, suggesting parts of the plane may have separated before impact.
At a news conference Nov. 3, Chapman said investigators had located most of the plane’s left elevator, a component on the tail that controls the plane’s pitch. Chapman said the evidence collected so far also suggests the plane could have been out of control before the parts came loose.
Another key focus of the investigation is the search for a cockpit voice recorder, also known as a black box. Chapman previously said records indicated such a device had been installed on the plane at some point, but investigators have not yet determined whether it remained on board at the time of the crash.
Weather conditions are also expected to play a major role in the investigation. The Learjet crashed as heavy rain and thunderstorms moved through South Florida, and investigators are examining how the conditions may have affected the flight.
Crash shakes community, fuels scrutiny of final moments
The crash sent shockwaves through a nearby mobile home community, where residents reported hearing a thunderous sound, feeling their homes shake and briefly losing power. Some residents initially feared attack as flames and smoke rose from the rubble.
In the days after the incident, family members and friends identified the nine victims as a Texas family of four and their nanny, a couple “full of joy and adventure” and two beloved pilots, sparking an outpouring of grief.
The crash also raised questions about why the crew lost control of the plane and sparked some criticism of the pilots. Members of the aviation community have cautioned the public against rushing to judgment before investigators have completed their work.
“Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote on social media. “Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memory.”
Experts told USA TODAY that investigators will closely examine the storm the Learjet encountered, every piece of wreckage recovered and the co-pilot’s final communications with air traffic controllers. They noted that the plane’s crew may have had little margin for error in difficult conditions.
Contributors: N’dea Yancey-Bragg and Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY
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