All Nine Passengers and Crew Killed in Palm Beach County Jet Crash
A Learjet 60 struck a roadway in Cresthaven on Sunday, killing everyone on board as it headed from Texas to the Bahamas.
By Marta Gray ·
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed Sunday that all nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed when the aircraft crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida. The accident occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. ET near the intersection of Military Trail, Cresthaven Boulevard, and 10th Avenue North in the community of Cresthaven. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the jet was traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with support from the FAA. Duffy stated that the agency is sending a team to the scene to assist the NTSB. He asked the public to pray for the families and loved ones of those lost in the accident. Local drivers were urged to seek alternate routes through the immediate area following the impact.
Witnesses described the scene as a massive fireball. The aircraft appeared to narrowly miss nearby homes before striking the roadway. Authorities have not yet determined if any houses sustained damage in the crash. The Learjet 60 is a medium-size business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. According to industry data, the plane has a maximum range of just over 2,400 nautical miles.
The aircraft departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas before the crash. It was carrying two crew members and eight passengers, which matches the maximum occupancy limit for the 58-foot plane. The NTSB will release preliminary findings as the investigation progresses. The FAA is monitoring the situation closely and plans to share updates as new information becomes available.
The crash site is located in a neighborhood area where the jet came down near a road. Officials confirmed the identity of the aircraft as a Learjet 60. The flight path from Texas to the Bahamas is a common route for private aviation in the region. The NTSB team will examine the wreckage to determine what caused the jet to leave its flight path.
Duffy posted details of the crash on social media on Sunday, November 1. He identified the location as Palm Beach County and specified the time of the impact. The FAA provided the departure and destination airports to reporters. The NTSB has taken the lead role in the inquiry, a standard protocol for major aviation accidents in the United States. Local emergency services responded to the scene shortly after the 12:50 p.m. impact.
The Learjet 60 is designed for business travel and can fly a long distance without refueling. The crash marked the first fatal business jet accident in the county in recent years. Authorities are working to secure the site for the investigation team. The FAA and NTSB will coordinate their efforts to gather data from the flight recorders and the wreckage. Families of the nine victims have been notified of the death of their loved ones.
The plane was headed to North Eleuthera Airport, a private island resort in the Bahamas. The flight originated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The crash occurred in daylight hours. No ground casualties were reported immediately after the impact. The investigation will focus on mechanical failures, pilot error, or weather conditions as potential causes. The NTSB will hold a briefing to share initial observations from the scene.
