NTSB says jet disintegrated before Greenacres crash killing nine

Nine people died when a business jet crashed and exploded in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman stated on Monday that the aircraft appeared to begin breaking up before it hit the ground.

Chapman noted that investigators expect to find parts of the plane scattered far from the impact site. He described the situation as having clear indication that the jet was disintegrating in the air. This assessment came during a news conference held in West Palm Beach.

Air traffic control recordings provide a timeline of the failure. The pilot reported light, clear ice and moderate turbulence while flying east at 35,000 feet. The pilot stated that the turbulence was jolting the aircraft by as much as 700 feet. Rain was falling in the region at the time.

The pilot requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet before declaring an emergency. The jet then lost altitude rapidly. The pilot radioed that the aircraft was descending at 8,000 feet per minute, then 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot later reported an overspeed condition with a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute. The final transmission was that the aircraft was going to crash into the ground.

Video recorded by witnesses shows the plane banking sharply to the right before impact. The aircraft struck the ground and erupted into flames. Anthony Blackmon, a resident living near the site, told NBC affiliate WTVJ that debris hit his house. He said everything was on fire, including the road.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel G. Flores said the county does not have a timeline for when residents can return home. Approximately 77 mobile homes in the area have been evacuated. Flores stated that the priority is clearing the scene so residents can return to normal life. He acknowledged that the community is looking for answers while investigators comb through evidence.

The jet departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. Airport spokesperson Jim Reynolds identified the craft as a private aircraft. Authorities have not released the names of the nine people on board. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the death investigation is in its early stages.

Camila Corteleti identified her 20-year-old daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, as one of the pilots. Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license in 2023 while in high school. Her license allowed her to fly that model of Learjet but did not authorize her to be in command. Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as cataclysmic, comparing the falling jet to a missile.