All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed Sunday afternoon when the business jet plunged into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who called the crash a “horrific tragedy” in a post on social media.
The jet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it went down near Cresthaven around 12:50 p.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to NBC News. The FAA said the aircraft made a rapid dive of about 350 feet per second before impact, ABC News reported.
A Learjet believed to be carrying nine people crashed on Sunday afternoon in Palm Beach County, Florida, after making a rapid dive of about 350 feet per second, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. https://t.co/yGgZEosfl9 pic.twitter.com/Gk5NmoV21X
— ABC News (@ABC) November 1, 2026
The private jet crashed nose-first in a residential area, according to Fox News, which aired video of stunned bystanders surveying the aftermath. Fox News also reported that emergency crews rushed to the scene along a busy stretch of road as smoke rose over the neighborhood.
“The FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the NTSB’s investigation,” Duffy said in his statement, according to NBC 6 South Florida. “Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with support from the FAA, NBC 6 reported. Investigators have not determined a cause.
What witnesses described
A Florida mother told Fox News that she and her son were getting ready to leave home when a massive explosion shook their apartment. She said her frightened son rushed to her as the windows rattled and the power went out, according to Fox News, and that he first thought the blast was a huge lightning strike.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said an aircraft incident was under investigation along Military Trail and that all northbound and southbound lanes were closed until further notice, according to NBC News. NBC 6 reported that it was not immediately clear whether anyone on the ground was hurt.
What is still unknown
The identities of the people on board have not been released, NBC News reported. The aircraft is registered to a limited liability company in Delaware, according to FAA records cited by NBC News, and it has not been publicly confirmed who was operating the flight.
Aviation outlet Aviacionline reported that, according to Flightradar24’s review of air traffic control audio, the crew described “light clear ice” and moderate turbulence at altitude and later declared an emergency during a steep descent. Those accounts are preliminary. Officials have not said whether weather played any role, and the NTSB has not released an official transcript or findings.
The crash site sits roughly nine miles from President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, according to Fox News. There is no indication from officials that the location is connected to the cause of the crash.
The NTSB typically releases a preliminary report within several weeks of a crash, with a final determination of probable cause often taking a year or more. Daily Beltway will update this story as investigators release more information and the victims are identified.
Sources
Sources cited
- https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2117049911245935002
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jet-crashes-florida-nine-people-board-rcna606874
- https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/officials-respond-to-fiery-aircraft-incident-in-palm-beach-county/3881532/
- https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2117062658528612472
- https://www.aviacionline.com/english/accidents-and-incidents/learjet-60-crashes-in-palm-beach-with-nine-people-on-board-what-we-know_a6ae7eec19b2d9a633cce2d67
Sources
- Original post: ABC News (@ABC) on X, Nov 1, 2026
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