Daijiworld Media Network - Florida
Florida, Nov 2: Nine people were killed after a private jet crashed into a residential area in South Florida on Sunday, triggering a massive fireball and prompting emergency crews to close nearby roads.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the deaths in a post on X, describing the incident as a “horrific tragedy”. He said all nine people aboard the Learjet 60 had died.
According to reports, the aircraft crashed near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County at around 12.50 pm local time, approximately nine miles from US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.
The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
Duffy said the FAA was sending a team to the crash site to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with its investigation. He added that the FAA and the US Department of Transportation were closely monitoring the situation and would provide updates as they became available.
In a statement, the FAA said both agencies would investigate the crash, with the NTSB taking charge of the probe and providing further information.
Emergency crews shut down Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, urging residents and motorists to avoid the area. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue described the incident as an extended emergency operation and appealed to the public to stay away from the crash site.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft descending rapidly before an explosion sent flames and thick smoke into the air.
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 indicated that the Learjet initially climbed to a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet after departing Austin. It began descending near Naples, Florida, before briefly climbing again and entering a steep right-hand descent at around 5.48 pm UTC.
The exact circumstances leading to the crash remain unclear. The NTSB will lead the investigation, with the FAA assisting in determining the cause of the tragedy.