Learjet Falls 26,500 Feet in One Minute in Palm Beach County, Killing Nine

A Learjet 60 business jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, killing all nine people aboard. The FAA said the jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute just before the crash, and it exploded near Military Trail. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as a horrific tragedy. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern time.

The jet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was scheduled to land at North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft registered as N722BD. The FAA stated that nine individuals were on board, though the exact split between passengers and crew has not been released. The agency noted that its initial information was preliminary.

Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, said the FAA is dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board. He asked the public to pray for the families of the victims. The NTSB is leading the investigation and has launched a go-team. Investigators are expected to arrive on Sunday and Monday morning. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach. No cause has been determined yet.

Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, identified the aircraft as a private jet. He said he could not say who was on the flight. He called the event a definite tragedy. Officials have not yet released the names of the nine deceased.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office placed the crash site near Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. The location is in Greenacres, a city of about 45,000 residents situated roughly seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. The site lies about four miles south of the local airport, which was renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport earlier this year. CNN reported that President Trump was in West Palm Beach earlier in the day and left the airport on Air Force One a little more than an hour before the crash.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and spoke to reporters. He described the crash as cataclysmic and said the jet looked like a missile descending. He noted that the impact created a large crater on the side of the road. DeSantis said there were no reports of ground casualties at the time of his news conference. He praised local first responders for their rapid response and noted that debris scattered over a wide area.

Witnesses captured video of the jet plunging from the sky and striking near the roadway. Flames surrounded chunks of pavement lining the crater. The site was covered in thick black smoke. Video from WPBF showed the road surface buckled where the jet impacted. The crater was only feet from nearby homes and inches from passing vehicles.

Anthony Blackmon, a resident about 500 feet from the crash, told NBC 6 that debris hit his house. He said everything was on fire, including the road. He noted that he had always seen such events on the news but never expected one to happen so close. Roger Forcelle said he felt the aircraft pass over his home. He described the shaking and said the jet crashed probably less than half a mile from his residence. He said neighbors rushed outside because of the vibration.

Andrew Mannino told CNN that he heard and felt the boom. He said the power went out immediately and remained out. He smelled smoke and saw a large black cloud rise into the air. Another witness described the aftermath as looking like a meteor had hit the ground. A woman working nearby reported that the electricity had been out for about two hours.

County officials said about 600 people in a nearby mobile home community had to leave their homes Sunday night. The crash scene blocks the entrance to the park and is being treated as a crime scene while federal investigators work. No official has alleged that a crime took place. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, who represents District 3, was the first county official on site. He said residents are being sent to two county shelters. The Red Cross is standing by, and Palm Tran buses are ready to transport residents once law enforcement allows the evacuation.

Palm Beach County closed Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive until further notice. The road is open only to emergency vehicles. The county directed drivers to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel. For north-south travel, officials recommended Haverhill Road and Kirk Road. A county commissioner warned that parts of the road could remain closed for an extended period due to the crater. The timeline also depends on the federal investigation.

Air traffic control recordings show the jet flying east at about 35,000 feet. The pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. They requested to climb 2,000 feet. Minutes before the crash, the pilot told the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center that they had light, clear ice that was manageable and moderate turbulence. The pilot reported an outside air temperature of minus 47 degrees Celsius. Turbulence was bouncing the jet by as much as 700 feet.

The situation changed rapidly after the pilots reported precipitation. The pilot radioed a mayday and said they were descending 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot then reported an overspeed condition while descending 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot stated they were going to crash into the ground. CBS News reported the pilot also said they were out of time. The descent rate went from 10,000 to 20,000 and then as high as 30,000 feet per minute, the AP reported. This pushed the jet beyond its design limits. The plane banked sharply to the right before hitting the ground at a steep angle.

The FAA said the jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute just before the crash. Flight tracking site ADS-B Exchange showed a drop of 27,000 feet in about a minute before the data cut off. CNN reported that the jet passed through a stronger storm cell a few minutes before the descent. The flight was in an area where the FAA had issued a convective SIGMET, a warning of thunderstorms that threaten aircraft. Whether the weather played a part has not been determined. Heavy rain fell across the region on Sunday, and the National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon.

Mary Schiavo, a CNN aviation analyst and former inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department, said dashcam video will be important to investigators. She stated that the descent was not controlled and that the pilots had lost control of the plane. She noted that the steep dive could have torn parts off the plane. A flight recorder could have been destroyed in the explosion. It is not known whether the jet carried a cockpit voice recorder. FAA rules require multi-engine jets to carry one only when they are flown for hire. Records show the jet was offered for charter flights.