World

Learjet 60 Crashes in Palm Beach County, Killing All Nine Onboard

By NBC6

Nine people were killed Sunday when a Learjet 60 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, authorities said. The aircraft, which had departed from Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, crashed near Cresthaven at about 12:50 p.m. ET, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people on board were killed in the crash. "The FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the NTSB's investigation," Duffy said in a statement on social media. "Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost." Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said the crash occurred in a neighborhood near Cresthaven and prompted the closure of Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Drivers were urged to seek alternate routes. Video showed the aircraft nose‑diving before exploding in a massive fireball near a busy roadway. The crash left a flaming crater and sent thick black smoke billowing over a neighborhood just feet from nearby homes. It was not immediately clear whether anyone on the ground was injured. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash. The NTSB will lead the investigation. All 9 people on board Learjet 60 were killed, officials confirm.