Nine people died when a Learjet bound for the Bahamas crashed into a highway in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, and investigators are examining whether the jet broke apart before it hit the ground. The Learjet crash in Florida has left the investigation focused on the plane’s final moments.
The Learjet 60 had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas, according to BBC World. It nosedived into Military Trail, a six-lane road in Palm Beach, at around 12:50 local time, and exploded on impact. All nine people on board died, the BBC reported.
NTSB investigator Tom Chapman said there is evidence of some breakup of the aircraft before impact, and parts may be found some distance from the impact site, according to BBC World. Lead investigator Tim Monville said the biggest obstacle is recovering major wreckage from the crater on the roadway. The crater was partly filled with water from severe storms, the BBC reported.
The victims include a tech entrepreneur and his young family, and the 20-year-old copilot, according to BBC World. A joint family statement named the entrepreneur as Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their children Emma, four, and Charlie, two. Media reports named the pilot as Jeffery Gregory. East Coast Jets, where he used to work, said Capt Jeff Gregory was among those killed. Copilot Nathalia Filgueiras, 20, reportedly earned her pilot’s licence at 17. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, confirmed to US media that she died.
Audio from air traffic control reportedly captures a crew member reporting moderate turbulence, managing ice and picking up precipitation. The crew member then reportedly said the plane was descending and, "we are going to crash into the ground," according to BBC World. SCMP (HK) reported that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were occurring where the plane went down, though it gave no details on the crash mechanism or casualties.
One man in a car on the ground reportedly sustained a leg injury. Only BBC World reports this injury, so it could not be confirmed by another outlet. The BBC said it contacted companies linked to Robinson for a statement, and no response has been reported.
No official cause has been stated. The NTSB has not confirmed whether a cockpit voice recorder was on board or can be recovered. The spelling of passenger Rachel or Rachael Reed differs within the BBC article and is unconfirmed. NBC News was available only as a headline and short excerpt, so its details could not be checked.
Next, the NTSB will work to recover major wreckage from the roadway crater and look for parts scattered some distance away. Investigators will also examine weather conditions and try to determine whether a cockpit voice recorder can be found. Key details of the weather, including the extent of the rain and storms, have not yet been established beyond reports of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.