Learjet crashes in Green Acres, killing nine

A private jet crashed into the Green Acres neighborhood in Palm Beach County on Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft, a Learjet 60 bound for the Bahamas, struck the ground about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. It erupted in flames and left a fiery crater near a roadway.

The plane had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. It was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot began reporting issues to air traffic control. The pilot cited accumulating ice and turbulence that jolted the aircraft by up to 700 feet. Rain was falling across the region at the time.

The pilot described the ice as light and clear, noting that it was manageable. He reported moderate turbulence. He then requested permission to climb an additional 2,000 feet. Shortly after, the pilot declared an emergency. The jet lost altitude rapidly. The pilot radioed that the plane was descending at 8,000 feet per minute, then 10,000, and finally 20,000 feet per minute in an overspeed condition.

In his final transmission, the pilot said, "We're going to crash into the ground." The jet banked sharply to the right before hitting the earth. Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, said debris hit his house and set the road on fire. He told NBC affiliate WTVJ that he had always seen crashes on the news but never expected one to happen so close to him.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the scene and called the event a cataclysmic plane crash. He said it looked like a missile going down. DeSantis stated there were no immediate reports of people on the ground being injured or killed. Authorities have not yet released the names of the nine victims.

Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. NTSB officials are scheduled to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday to provide an update.

Airport spokesperson Jim Reynolds confirmed the aircraft was private but did not provide details about the passengers. The crash site remains surrounded by thick black smoke and chunks of pavement. Investigators continue to assess the wreckage.