A business jet has crashed in Florida, killing all nine people on board. The crash occurred on Sunday.
The Learjet 60 aircraft was travelling to the Bahamas from Austin, Texas, when it began descending at hundreds of feet per second before crashing.
According to air traffic control audio recordings, a voice from the cockpit reported that the plane was descending at 10,000 feet (3,048 metres) per minute. In the recording, crew members were heard declaring an emergency and shouting, “We are going to crash into the ground.”
About 35 seconds after the emergency declaration, another cockpit report came in, in which a crew member reportedly said they had run out of time.
The US Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, described the crash as a “horrific tragedy”.
Furthermore, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis likened the crash to “a missile coming down” during a press conference, adding that there was a massive explosion, with debris scattered across the area.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Transportation reported that there were no reports of anyone on the ground being injured or killed.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred on Military Trail, a six-lane road surrounded by businesses and restaurants. Following the incident, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a “mass casualty incident”.
The crash also damaged road infrastructure, including water lines, disrupting movement in the area. Authorities indicated that the six-lane road would remain closed for at least 30 days.