Nine killed in Florida jet crash near Mar-a-Lago
All occupants of a Learjet 60 died when the aircraft fell into a residential neighborhood in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
By Kenji Hassan ·
Nine people died when a business jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy. The Learjet 60 impacted the area around 12:50 p.m. Eastern Time, creating a crater-sized hole in a road and scattering concrete and debris.
The crash site is located near Cresthaven, approximately nine miles from the Mar-a-Lago resort. The Federal Aviation Authority stated that the aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas when it went down. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared the event a mass casualty incident.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office pinpointed the location to the area of Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Officials advised motorists to avoid the vicinity and seek alternative routes while crews worked the scene.
Duffy announced that the FAA is dispatching a team to the site to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation. He asked the public to pray for the families and loved ones of the victims.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the individuals aboard the jet. It is also unclear whether anyone on the ground sustained injuries or was killed in the impact. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Source: Casualty
