Jet Plunges 30,000 Feet Per Minute Before Crashing Into South Florida Roadway

The aircraft lost altitude at a rate of 30,000 feet per minute just before it struck the ground in Palm Beach County on Sunday. The rapid descent pushed the jet beyond its design limits according to air traffic control recordings and flight tracking data. Nine people died in the crash. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities and described the incident as a horrific tragedy on social media.

The Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas with a destination of the Bahamas. It was heading east at an altitude of 35,000 feet when pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. The crew requested to climb an additional 2,000 feet to escape the weather. Minutes after that request, the plane entered a steep dive. Video captured by drivers showed the aircraft plunging from the sky and exploding near a busy roadway.

Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining a crater at the crash site. Thick black smoke engulfed the area as onlookers gathered. People expressed shock that the jet landed only feet from homes and inches from passing vehicles. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. He told reporters at the scene that the event looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.

Rain pounded the region on Sunday, with a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon due to excessive rainfall. The National Weather Service issued the advisory for the area. The crash site is located in Greenacres, a city of 45,000 people situated about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.

Air traffic control recordings show the pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. The jet banked sharply to the right before smashing into the ground. The pilot reported light, clear ice that was manageable and moderate turbulence that was jolting the plane by up to 700 feet. As the situation deteriorated, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was descending 8,000 feet and then 10,000 feet per minute.

The pilot later reported an overspeed condition while descending at 20,000 feet per minute. He acknowledged the impending impact by stating the plane was going to crash into the ground. Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert, noted that icing and turbulence could have been factors. He suggested these conditions may have caused the plane to stall while cruising at 34,000 feet. He said investigators will consider all potential factors, including the pilot's response to the reported conditions.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. Duffy said the FAA is sending a team to support the NTSB's work. NTSB investigators were expected to arrive at the crash site on Sunday and Monday. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach County authorities evacuated about 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. County officials said the road will remain closed until further notice. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the jet was a private aircraft but could not provide details about the passengers or crew. The NTSB has not yet determined the cause of the crash.