Nine Killed After Business Jet Plunges Into A Florida Neighbourhood — What We Know So Far

A business jet crashed into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. Here is what is known so far, and what is still unclear.

What Happened

The aircraft, a Learjet 60, came down near the Cresthaven neighbourhood at around 12:50pm local time, according to BBC News. The area is roughly nine miles from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas, per the BBC. Sky News also reports that all nine people on board died.

The jet came down on Military Trail, a six-lane road lined with businesses and restaurants. Images from the scene show a large crater in the road, with fires burning and debris scattered across the area.

What Witnesses And Officials Described

US media reports and flight analysis suggest the jet was dropping at extreme speed before impact, the BBC reports. Unverified social media footage appears to show dash-camera video of the aircraft nosediving almost vertically before exploding into a fireball.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the footage was "like a missile coming down", according to the BBC. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it a "horrific tragedy".

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a "mass casualty incident".

Were Any People On The Ground Hurt?

At the time of the news conference, DeSantis said officials had no reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured, per the BBC. That is a small mercy given where the plane came down.

Even so, the disruption is serious:

• About 600 residents of a nearby trailer-park community were evacuated.
• The crash damaged local infrastructure, including water lines.
• Officials said the road will be closed for at least 30 days.
• Thunderstorms had been reported in the area, and heavy rain was falling during the press conference.

What We Don't Know Yet

Officials have not said who was on the plane. The cause of the crash has not been established.

The FAA is sending a team to the scene to assist an investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board. Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago that morning and left on Air Force One from a nearby airport about an hour before the crash, according to the BBC. No link between the two has been suggested.

What Happens Next

The NTSB will lead the investigation. Early findings from air crash inquiries are usually limited, with fuller conclusions taking much longer. The names of those on board are expected to be released once families have been informed.

We will update this story as more is confirmed.

Sources:

• BBC News
• Sky News

What questions do you think the investigation most needs to answer? Share your thoughts below, respectfully.