NTSB identifies possible Learjet breakup before Florida crash that killed nine
Investigators found evidence the aircraft separated before impact, while air traffic control audio recorded a rapid descent through precipitation.
By Javier Sanders ·
The Learjet 60 disintegrated before it struck the ground in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas on Sunday morning. It was bound for North Eleuthera, Bahamas, when it crashed near the Cresthaven neighborhood in Greenacres around 12:50 p.m. The impact occurred roughly seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach, killing all nine people on board.
Investigators reviewed air traffic control recordings from the final moments of the flight. A woman on the plane reported light ice and moderate turbulence about two minutes before the crash. She described the ice as manageable but noted the crew was picking up precipitation. She requested a climb in altitude, a request air traffic control approved.
NTSB member Tom Chapman stated that less than 30 seconds later, the plane announced a descent. The crew issued a mayday call, screaming that they were descending at 20,000 feet per minute. They warned they were going to crash into the ground. Chapman said the plane reported an over-speed condition before the impact.
The crash sent a fiery explosion across a residential road, leaving a large hole in the pavement. Governor Ron DeSantis described the jet as looking like a missile going down due to its speed. He called the event cataclysmic and noted that debris spread over a significant distance. About 600 people were displaced from their homes, including residents of 77 mobile homes near the wreckage site.
Families identified the victims as Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, and their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. They were accompanied by Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for the children. The co-pilot was Nathalia Filgueiras, 20. Her sister, Giulia Filgueiras, said Nathalia learned to fly from her father and had dreamed of becoming a pilot since she was young.
The NTSB said weather conditions will be a major focus of the investigation. A flood watch remained in effect for southern Florida on Sunday, with showers and scattered thunderstorms forecast through Monday. Bombardier, the manufacturer of the Learjet, said it was deeply saddened by the crash and would cooperate fully with the investigating authorities.
Palm Beach County officials are working to clear the scene so residents can return to their homes. Commissioner Joel Flores said the county is focused on re-establishing access to the neighborhood. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the board seeking to determine the extent of the pre-impact breakup.
