According to available information, the Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it crashed. Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The aircraft was carrying nine people when it suddenly plunged towards the ground in South Florida on Sunday. It crashed near a busy road, triggering a massive explosion upon impact. The jet narrowly missed nearby houses before hitting the ground close to the roadway. The impact caused a fire and left a large crater in the road.
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed that the aircraft was a private jet and described the incident as a major tragedy. The aircraft's tail number was N722BD.
The jet crashed just feet away from nearby houses, narrowly avoiding a collision with residential properties. People travelling in a car recorded the incident, capturing the aircraft rapidly descending from the sky before crashing near the road in a powerful explosion.
The impact left a large crater, with flames rising around the crash site. The aircraft also came within inches of vehicles travelling along the road. Thick black smoke subsequently spread across the surrounding area. However, it remains unclear whether any nearby houses sustained damage.
The crash occurred near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. Following the incident, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office closed roads in both directions and urged motorists to avoid the area.
Firefighters and other emergency response teams rushed to the scene immediately after the crash. A woman working nearby said the area experienced a power outage lasting approximately two hours following the incident.
All nine people aboard the private jet lost their lives in the crash. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the aircraft's sudden descent and fatal impact.
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