Private Learjet 60 Crashes in West Palm Beach, Killing Nine

Overview

• The Learjet 60 left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 9:36 a.m. and crashed into Military Trail in West Palm Beach around 12:50 p.m. on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard.
• Public audio recorded by LiveATC captures the crew reporting ice accumulation, moderate turbulence and declaring a Mayday while the jet began a rapid descent.
• Flight-tracking feeds show the aircraft was at cruise around 35,000 ft before entering an unusually steep descent with reported vertical rates that reached tens of thousands of feet per minute.
• The impact created a fiery crater, scattered debris across a busy road, prompted about 600 nearby residents to evacuate and closed Military Trail for an extended cleanup and repair.
• The NTSB is leading the formal investigation with FAA support and on-site teams, and officials say they have recovered tracking and audio records but have not released identities or a probable cause.