All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 business jet were killed when the aircraft crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, 2 November 2025, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed. The crash left a crater beside a road and forced authorities to arrange temporary shelter for nearly 600 residents displaced from the surrounding neighbourhood.

How the Crash Unfolded

The aircraft went down near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, at approximately 12:50 pm local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it came down in the Cresthaven area.

Television footage from the scene showed large fires, heavy smoke, and debris scattered across the road and the adjacent residential community. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who visited the site, described the scale of destruction as 'cataclysmic.' 'It looked like a missile going down. It left a big crater on the side of the road,' DeSantis told reporters. He confirmed that no fatalities or injuries on the ground had been reported as of his briefing, and praised emergency personnel for their swift response.

What the Federal Agencies Said

Secretary Duffy posted on X that 'All 9 people on board were killed,' calling the event a 'horrific tragedy.' He said the FAA was deploying personnel to support the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead agency for the investigation. The FAA's earlier statement had confirmed nine people were on board but did not initially disclose their condition; Duffy's post established that none had survived.

The NTSB confirmed it was dispatching an investigative team to Florida, with members expected to arrive on Sunday and Monday. The board announced plans for a media briefing in West Palm Beach on Monday. As of Sunday evening, officials had not publicly identified those killed, confirmed the crew-to-passenger breakdown, or released a probable cause.

Reported Weather Conditions Before Impact

Air traffic control recordings, cited in reports, indicated that the pilots had mentioned icing, turbulence, and precipitation shortly before the aircraft entered a steep descent. Investigators have not confirmed whether those conditions contributed to the accident, and any causal determination awaits a full NTSB examination of the wreckage, flight data recorders, weather records, and other evidence.

Impact on the Surrounding Community

Palm Beach County officials said approximately 600 residents near the crash site may need temporary accommodation while investigators and emergency crews remain in the area. County Commissioner Joel Flores said two shelters were on standby, county transit vehicles were being readied to move displaced residents, and the American Red Cross was available to provide support. Officials warned that the area closure could extend beyond Sunday.

The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business jet manufactured by Bombardier. The aircraft involved carried the registration N722BD, according to aviation records cited by local media; its registered ownership does not by itself establish who was operating the flight. The NTSB will publish an initial factual report before issuing a final probable-cause determination, a process that typically takes months.