Palm Beach County, November 2 (TNA) Nine people were killed after a Learjet 60 business jet crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, US officials said. The aircraft crashed near Cresthaven at about 12:50 p.m. local time and erupted into a fireball. All nine people aboard died, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Flight Was Bound for Bahamas
The Learjet had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The crash occurred near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, close to the Greenacres area.
The aircraft came down near homes and a busy roadway. Early reports indicated that it narrowly missed residential structures, though the impact and fire prompted a major emergency response.
Mass-Casualty Response
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a mass-casualty incident after the crash. Authorities evacuated about 600 residents from a nearby mobile-home community as emergency crews secured the area and dealt with the fire.
Officials did not immediately release the identities of the victims or provide details about the aircraft’s condition before the crash.
Investigation Underway
The FAA is sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the cause of the accident. Investigators will examine the aircraft’s maintenance records, flight data, communications and debris field.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The investigation is expected to determine whether mechanical failure, weather, human error or another factor contributed to the accident.