All nine people on board a Learjet 60 were killed when the aircraft crashed in a residential area near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, 1 November, US officials said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the jet crashed at about 12:50 p.m. local time near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, in the Cresthaven area. It had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X that all nine people on board had died, calling the crash a “horrific tragedy” and asking people to pray for the families and loved ones of those lost.
What happened at the scene
The aircraft came down in a neighbourhood of mobile and modular homes, triggering a large fire and leaving scattered debris and a crater, according to local reports and video from the scene. At least one trailer was reported damaged, and power lines were brought down.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue described the incident as a mass-casualty incident in its early response, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed Military Trail in both directions around the crash site.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no reports of anyone on the ground being killed. County officials said about 600 residents from the nearby mobile-home community needed shelter and were being sent to two county shelters as emergency operations continued. As of Sunday afternoon, officials had not confirmed any deaths or injuries among people on the ground.
Who was on board
The identities of the nine people on board had not been officially released in the reports examined. The FAA said nine people were on board and that its information was preliminary and subject to change. Reports citing FAA records identified the aircraft’s tail number as N722BD, registered to a Delaware company, but officials had not confirmed the identities of the passengers or crew.
The investigation
The FAA said it and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate, with the NTSB in charge and providing all updates. NTSB investigators were expected at the site on Sunday and Monday, with a news conference planned for Monday.
No cause has been given. Flight-tracking data reported by news outlets showed a steep, rapid descent in the jet’s final moments, and air-traffic-control audio reported by CNN indicated the pilot reported ice and moderate turbulence minutes before declaring an emergency. Officials have not confirmed whether weather played a role, and South Florida was under a flood watch for heavy rain on Sunday. The cause remains unknown, and investigators are expected to examine flight data, maintenance history, weather and communications.
According to NTSB records cited by CNN, the crash is the second deadliest in the United States this year, after a skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, in June that killed 12 people.
What is still unknown
- The identities of the nine people killed.
- Whether anyone on the ground was injured.
- What caused the aircraft to descend so rapidly.
- The full extent of damage to homes in the area.
This is a developing story, and this article will be updated as officials release confirmed information.
FAQ
Where did the Learjet crash?
Near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, in the Cresthaven area near Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida.
How many people were killed?
All nine people on board were killed, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. No deaths on the ground had been confirmed as of Sunday afternoon.
Where was the flight headed?
From Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Who is investigating?
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sources
- Reuters: Nine people dead in Learjet crash in south Florida, officials say — https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nine-people-dead-learjet-crash-south-florida-officials-say-2026-11-01/
- USA Today: 9 on board plane killed after crash in Florida, federal officials investigating — https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/11/01/florida-plane-crash-learjet-palm-beach/92552816007/
- CNN: 9 killed after a Learjet crashes and erupts into flames in Palm Beach County, Florida — https://www.cnn.com/2026/11/01/us/south-florida-plane-crash?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta
- Palm Beach Post: Plane crash near Greenacres killed all nine people aboard, U.S. says — https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/accident/2026/11/01/authorities-on-scene-of-incident-in-greenacres-as-fire-debris-scattered/92551569007/
