Learjet kills nine in South Florida crash

A private business jet crashed into a residential area in Florida on Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people aboard. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy. The Learjet 60 came down at 12:50 p.m. local time in Palm Beach County.

The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas with a destination in the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the Austin airport, identified the tail number as N722BD and confirmed the craft was privately owned. He declined to name the passengers, stating that details about the occupants were not immediately available.

Witnesses in nearby vehicles captured video of the jet nosediving into the neighborhood. The plane struck the ground near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, exploding into a large fireball just before impacting the roadway. Thick black smoke rose from the site, and flames licked at the pavement surrounding the impact crater.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed roads in both directions and asked drivers to avoid the area while emergency crews responded. A woman working nearby reported that power outages affected the vicinity for approximately two hours following the impact. Authorities did not immediately report injuries or deaths among people on the ground.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. The FAA stated it is sending a team to assist with that inquiry. Officials have not yet released information on what caused the jet to descend or the specific nature of the damage to nearby homes.

The crash site was located only feet from houses and inches from passing traffic, according to eyewitness accounts. The exact number of homes damaged remains unclear as cleanup and investigation efforts continue in the area.

Duffy’s announcement marked the first official confirmation of the death toll. Prior to his statement, it was not immediately known if any of the nine individuals on board or residents in the immediate neighborhood had been injured.