Learjet That Left Austin Crashes In Palm Beach County Neighborhood Killing All 9 Aboard
All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 that departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the Bahamas were killed when the jet crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. The NTSB is leading the investigation.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – All nine people aboard a private jet that took off from Austin were killed Sunday when the plane crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
The Learjet 60 crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, around 12:50 p.m. local time, or 11:50 a.m. Central time, on Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The jet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, the FAA said.
“Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida is a horrific tragedy,” Duffy posted on X. He said the FAA is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.
NTSB briefing Monday
The NTSB is leading the investigation and launched a go-team to the crash site in Lake Worth Beach, according to the agency. The NTSB said it would hold a media briefing in West Palm Beach on Monday, with the time and location to be announced Monday morning. The NTSB had not posted the time as of early Monday.
Evacuations and road closures
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined local officials for a press conference Sunday, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The crash caused significant debris and damage to surrounding infrastructure and prompted road closures and evacuations in the nearby community, the sheriff’s office said. About 600 residents were being helped with temporary shelter and other essential needs, according to the sheriff’s office.
Anyone who saw the crash or has information is asked to call the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-3375.
The jet’s registration number was N722BD, and Military Trail was closed between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane, according to other local news sources. No injuries on the ground were reported in initial accounts, according to other local news sources. Officials had not publicly identified the nine people who died as of early Monday.
The FAA said its information is preliminary and subject to change.
Also read: Three Shootings In Dallas Deep Ellum Overnight Leave Multiple People Dead
Sources: FAA statement, Nov. 1 | U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X | NTSB Newsroom on X | Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on X
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