A Learjet 60 business jet carrying nine people has crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, after a sudden, near vertical dive from cruising altitude on Sunday afternoon.
The aircraft, registered N722BD, came down beside South Military Trail near Greenacres at around 12:49 local time (17:49 UTC), according to the Aviation Safety Network. It struck the roadside close to a mobile home community, leaving a burning crater in the pavement and debris scattered across the area.
BocaNewsNow, which first broke the story, reports that all nine people on board are presumed dead. Authorities have referred to multiple fatalities but have not released an official number or identified any of the victims.
A Flight From Austin to the Bahamas
The jet departed Austin Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at 15:37 UTC, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the routing and that nine people were on board.
Flightradar24 data shows the Learjet climbed to 41,000 feet and tracked southeast towards Florida. Near Naples at 17:35 UTC, it began a descent to 35,000 feet and turned towards the Palm Beach area.
At 17:48 UTC, the aircraft briefly climbed before entering a steep descending turn to the right. Its rate of descent then increased dramatically, exceeding 32,000 feet per minute. The last data point recorded the jet at 8,750 feet. <!– Insert Flightradar24 playback screenshot of N722BD here, captioned “Source: Flightradar24” –>
CNN reports, citing flight tracking data, that the Learjet lost around 27,000 feet in the space of one minute. Dashcam footage shared online appears to show the jet striking the ground nose first at very high speed before erupting into a fireball.
Storms Over Palm Beach at the Time
Scattered storms were active across Palm Beach County as the flight approached. CNN’s weather team found that the jet passed through a stronger storm cell a few minutes before its descent began.
Observations from the West Palm Beach area recorded overcast skies, rain and lightning around the time of the accident. Investigators have not said whether the weather contributed to the crash.
Emergency Response Across Palm Beach County
By 13:10 local time, hospitals across the county had been placed on alert for a mass casualty incident. Delray Medical Center, St Mary’s Medical Center and Wellington Regional Hospital were all told to prepare for multiple victims.
WPTV reports that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue closed Military Trail to all traffic between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. The agency described the operation as an “extended incident” and urged the public to stay away.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the closure in both directions. Greenacres Fire Rescue sent four units to support triage and firefighting, as the site sits just outside the city limits. It is not yet known whether anyone on the ground was injured.
About N722BD
N722BD was a Learjet 60 with serial number 60-271, built in 2004 and powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305A turbofan engines. It previously flew as N271L and later N954WS before taking its current registration in 2020.
FAA registry records show the jet is registered to LR60271 LLC of Wilmington, Delaware. The certificate was issued in January 2023 and remains valid until January 2030.
The jet has appeared on several charter platforms, though it is not yet clear whether Sunday’s flight operated as a charter.
Speculation Over Presidential Airspace
The crash site lies around four miles south of the main international airport serving West Palm Beach. President Donald Trump departed that airport on Air Force One a little more than an hour before the accident.
A delay in official information fuelled online rumours that air defences around the President’s Palm Beach estate had brought the jet down. No evidence supports this claim. The Palm Beach Post noted that no aircraft has ever been shot down in Palm Beach County because of airspace restrictions.
NTSB Takes the Lead
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with support from the FAA.
Investigators will focus on the jet’s final minutes, including the brief climb, the steep right hand turn and the extreme rate of descent. Wreckage, air traffic control recordings, maintenance history and weather data will all form part of that work.
The NTSB normally publishes a preliminary report within 30 days of an accident.
The Aviation Hub will update this story as more official information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the families of those on board and the residents affected in Palm Beach County.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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