Duffy confirms all nine aboard crashed Lear jet are dead
The aircraft departed Austin for the Bahamas before falling into Palm Beach County, where the FAA is supporting the NTSB inquiry.
By Hugo Konate ·
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Sunday that all nine people on board a business jet died after the aircraft crashed into a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Lear 60 came down at 12:50 p.m., striking near a busy roadway and creating a large crater in the pavement.
The plane had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas earlier in the day with a destination of the Bahamas. Duffy stated on X that the Federal Aviation Administration is dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Transportation Safety Board in determining the cause of the crash. He described the incident as a horrific tragedy.
Witnesses in nearby vehicles recorded the aircraft plunging from the sky. The jet erupted in a fireball just before impact, leaving thick black smoke hanging over the scene. Debris and chunks of pavement surrounded the fiery crater. Emergency crews closed roads in both directions near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North to manage traffic and clear the area.
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, identified the aircraft as a private jet with the tail number N722BD. He did not immediately release the names of those aboard. Reynolds called the event a definite tragedy but could not provide further details about the passengers or crew at the time of his statement.
The crash site is located near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in South Florida. A woman working in the vicinity reported that power had been out for about two hours following the impact. Firefighters and other emergency personnel rushed to the scene to contain the blaze and secure the area.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the jet to dive. The FAA and NTSB are working to investigate the mechanical and environmental factors involved. Road closures remained in effect as crews worked to clear the debris from the roadway and the adjacent residential areas.
The N722BD was the only aircraft involved in the incident. No injuries to people on the ground have been reported as of the latest updates. The investigation is focused on the final moments of the flight and the condition of the aircraft before it struck the ground.
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles
