November 1, 2026
UPDATE: Reporting on air traffic control recordings has provided additional details about the Learjet crew’s distress calls before the crash. The cause remains under investigation.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed Sunday when the private business jet crashed near a residential area in Greenacres, Florida, close to a busy roadway, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Federal aviation officials said the aircraft crashed around 12:50 p.m. Eastern time November 1. The jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The aircraft was identified by registration number N722BD. Federal Aviation Administration records list it as a Learjet 60. Officials had not publicly identified the people aboard at the time of this update.
Air traffic recording documents emergency calls
According to The Associated Press, recordings captured by LiveATC.net show a pilot reporting moderate turbulence, ice accumulation and precipitation while the aircraft was traveling at approximately 35,000 feet.
The pilot discussed an outside temperature of approximately minus 47 degrees Celsius and requested clearance to climb to 37,000 feet. Soon afterward, the crew reported an emergency as the aircraft began descending rapidly.
The reported descent rate increased from about 10,000 feet per minute to 20,000 feet per minute during the radio calls. In one of the final transmissions described by the AP, the pilot warned, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”
These reports describe what was communicated during the flight, but they do not establish why the plane lost control. The National Transportation Safety Board has not determined the cause of the crash.
Air traffic control distress call
Recording of radio communications attributed to the aircraft crew and air traffic control.
Video shows explosion near roadway
Video circulated online shows a plane plunging toward the ground and a large explosion near passing vehicles. The crash left debris and a crater along the road. Florida officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties on the ground.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: The following video shows a fatal plane crash and an explosion.
Crash footage credit: WBC24 News via X. Original camera operator not independently identified.
Aftermath footage
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: The following aftermath footage shows burning debris, damaged pavement and downed utility lines. The original camera operator has not been independently identified.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed Military Trail near Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Officials urged drivers to avoid the area while emergency teams and investigators responded.
Federal investigation continues
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with support from the FAA. Investigators will examine flight data, weather, aircraft systems and other evidence to determine what happened. The official cause has not been announced.
Sources: The Associated Press; Reuters; FAA Aircraft Registry; Scripps News; WBC24 News video post.
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