Nine killed in Learjet 60 crash in South Florida

A Learjet 60 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Cresthaven, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, November 1, 2026, killing all nine people on board, according to officials.

Crash Details and Flight Path

According to an official incident statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time. The aircraft, identified as N722BD, had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling toward North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

Flight-tracking data from ADS-B showed the jet climbed to 41,000 feet before beginning a descent near Naples, Florida, to approximately 35,000 feet. Shortly before the accident, the aircraft briefly climbed before entering a steep descending right turn. ADS-B recorded a maximum descent rate exceeding 32,000 feet per minute before tracking information was lost, according to AVweb.

Reported Conditions and Communications

Before the crash, the crew reported encountering icing, turbulence, and precipitation while flying at approximately 35,000 feet. One pilot told the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center, “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,” according to air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net.

In radio communications prior to the impact, a crewmember reported an overspeed condition and a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute. In another transmission, a crewmember was heard saying, “We’re gonna crash into the ground 722 Bravo Delta,” followed by, “Holy f—k, we’re out of time,” according to audio cited by the New York Post.

Investigation and Local Impact

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. Investigators are examining the sequence of events, including whether severe weather played a role. A nearby National Weather Service observation recorded thunderstorms, three miles of visibility, and winds gusting to 19 knots approximately 15 minutes before the accident.

Local resident Anthony Blackmon told NBC Miami, “Debris was everywhere. Debris hit my house. Everything was on fire. The road was on fire.” Residents of a mobile home park near the crash site were evacuated, according to Joel Flores, commissioner for Palm Beach County’s 3rd District.

Why it matters

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy referred to the incident as a “horrific tragedy” in a statement on X, confirming that all nine people aboard were killed.

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Sources

• dailycaller.com: ‘We’re Out Of Time’: Learjet Kills 9 People Near Mobile Home Park In Fiery Crash, Publication Releases Harrowing Audio | The Daily Caller
• economictimes.indiatimes.com: Learjet airplane crash: Florida Learjet 60 crash: Did a thunderstorm and severe weather put N722BD at risk before all 9 died? Here's what NTSB is investigating - The Economic Times
• avweb.com: Nine Killed in Florida Learjet Accident
• straitstimes.com: Nine dead in Florida plane crash near Mar-a-Lago | The Straits Times
• kuwaittimes.com: Nine killed as business jet crashes near Trump’s Florida home | Kuwait Times Newspaper

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.