All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 business jet were killed when it crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The plane went down near a mobile home park in Greenacres at 12:50 p.m., causing a large fire and extensive damage in a residential area. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it a “horrific tragedy.”
The aircraft, tail number N722BD, had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas. Minutes before the crash, the pilot reported ice accumulation and moderate turbulence to the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. The pilot stated, “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence.”
Moments later, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting a rapid descent. “We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot said, adding, “We are in an overspeed condition, descending 20,000 feet per minute … We’re going to crash into the ground.” Flight tracking data showed the plane descended 27,000 feet in under a minute before the signal was lost.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as looking “like a missile going down.” He stated there were no reports of casualties on the ground, though the incident left approximately 600 people in need of shelter, CNN reported. The crash created a large crater on the road near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, scattering debris across the surrounding area. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed roads in both directions and urged motorists to avoid the area. One mobile home appeared to be destroyed in the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States’ civil aviation regulatory body, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent US investigation agency, are investigating the cause of the crash. Scattered storms were reported in the area at the time of the incident, but it remains unclear if they contributed to the crash.
The FAA is expected to publish an initial accident report by the next business day. The identities of the nine people on board have not yet been released by federal authorities, and it is still unclear if anyone on the ground was injured or killed.
Background
- The aircraft departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas.
- Minutes before the crash, the pilot reported ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.
- The pilot declared an emergency, stating the plane was descending at 20,000 feet per minute.
- Flight tracking data showed the plane descended 27,000 feet in under a minute before the signal was lost.
