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Florida governor reveals fate of people on ground after private jet nosedives into trailer park
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The governor of Florida has delivered a damning statement after a private jet crashed into a South Florida neighborhood on Sunday (November 1).
The aircraft nose-dived back to Earth before erupting into a massive fireball that killed everyone onboard.
It's been reported that the crash missed homes near a busy road, as videos of the incident have gone viral online.
The jet was headed for the Bahamas when it started rapidly descending, with bystanders left shocked after a crater was left by the plane.
Speaking shortly after the crash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on X that the Learjet 60 crashed at around 12:50PM, describing it as a 'horrific tragedy'.
He also confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the crash.
Florida governor reveals fate of those on the ground
Following the crash, Florida governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on the incident and revealed that there were no immediate reports of any bystanders on the ground being injured or killed.
He explained: "It was a cataclysmic plane crash; it looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.”
DeSantis said that debris from the crash covered a large area in the neighborhood, and that federal aviation officials were expected in Palm Beach County on Sunday night to begin their investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the aircraft was headed for the Bahamas after departing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
FAA records indicate that the Bombardier-made Learjet 60’s owner was a Delaware corporation.
According to Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the airport, it was indeed a private aircraft that crashed, but he did not reveal information about those on board.
The plane was eastbound at 35,000 ft when pilots reported turbulence, as well as icing and precipitation, before requesting to climb another 2,000 ft.
Shortly after, the aircraft went into a steep dive, starting at 10,000 ft per minute, going up to 30,000 ft per minute, meaning the plane was speeding beyond its design limits, as per flight tracking data and air traffic control (ATC) recordings.
The pilot had declared an emergency and issued distress calls over the radio, with the plane banking sharply to the right before its crash.
According to recordings from the ATC, the pilot told controllers: “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence.”
Soon after, the aircraft started losing altitude at a rapid rate.
Aftermath of the crash
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the vertical descent rate of the aircraft exceeded 32,000 ft per minute at one point.
The region was struck by rain on Sunday, with a flood watch in place through Monday afternoon.
The aircraft crashed near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closing roads and warning motorists to steer clear of the area.
Emergency teams were also called to the scene as authorities evacuated around 600 people from a nearby mobile home community.
Federal officials have began an investigation into the crash, with circumstances currently unknown.