Nine people have died after a private Learjet plunged into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, 1 November 2026, with dramatic footage capturing the aircraft’s steep final descent.
The Learjet 60 crashed at about 12.50pm local time (5.50pm UK time) near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, in the Cresthaven area close to Greenacres. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard were killed. Authorities had not confirmed whether anyone on the ground was injured.
The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was travelling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Its occupants had not been publicly identified at the time of reporting.
Video shows aircraft falling steeply
Dashcam footage shared in international news coverage appears to show the jet descending at a very steep angle towards the ground before a large fireball rises near a roadway. The footage is striking, but cannot on its own establish why the aircraft went down.
CNN, citing data from the aircraft-tracking service ADS-B Exchange, reported that the jet descended approximately 27,000 feet in about one minute before its tracking data ended. Such readings are preliminary and will need to be examined alongside other evidence by investigators.
What we know
- The aircraft was a Learjet 60 flying from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
- The crash occurred shortly before 1pm on Sunday in Palm Beach County, near homes and a busy road.
- All nine people on board died, according to the US Transportation Secretary.
- Emergency services attended fires and wreckage around the crash site, while Military Trail was closed to traffic.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the FAA assisting.
What we don’t know
The cause of the crash has not been determined. The authorities have not yet released the identities of those who died, the reason for the rapid descent or a confirmed assessment of any injuries on the ground.
Storms were reported in the West Palm Beach area at the time. CNN reported that the flight had passed through a stronger storm cell before descending, but there is no official finding that weather caused or contributed to the accident. Mechanical failure, pilot actions and other possible factors cannot be assessed from the video alone.
What investigators have said
The FAA said the Learjet 60 crashed at approximately 12.50pm and confirmed the route and number of people aboard. It said its initial information was preliminary and subject to change. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide further updates.
Investigators are expected to examine flight data, air traffic control records, wreckage, weather information and any other relevant evidence. The NTSB generally issues an initial factual report around a month after an accident, but such a report does not establish the probable cause.
Video: aircraft’s final descent
The following Nine News Australia report includes dashcam footage showing the aircraft’s steep final descent. The images do not establish the cause of the crash.
