Learjet 60 crashes in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine aboard

A Learjet 60, tail number N722BD, bound for the Bahamas crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1 with nine fatalities, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The cause is yet to be determined with both the FAA and the NTSB at the preliminary stages of their investigations. The jet, which was bound for the Bahamas, departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at about 15:37 UTC and climbed to a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet according to ADS-B data (which is preliminary and unofficial). It began to step down in altitude at 17:37 UTC, leveling off at 35,000 by about 17:42 UTC. At that point, the pilot reported moderate turbulence, with altitude swings of 600 to 700 feet. When asked for outside air temperature, she gave -47°C and said the crew was managing ice. She then asked the controller about smoother altitudes and was told that conditions were improving ahead. The pilot then reported precipitation and asked to climb, and was given clearance to 37,000 feet by ATC. However, seconds later the pilot declared a Mayday at a descent rate of 10,000 fpm, followed by a report of an overspeed at a 20,000 fpm decent. The next report from the pilot was a 22,000 fpm descent rate and a 60-degree bank. The Learjet crashed at a severe nose-down attitude at approximately 12:50 p.m. EST near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres area. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being injured or killed. The accident aircraft was 22 years old and, per the FAA registry, registered to LR60271 LLC of Wilmington, Delaware. It is still unclear whether this was a Part 91 or 135 flight.What happens nextThe NTSB leads the investigation, with FAA support. A preliminary report is typically released within two weeks of an accident. A final report is to be expected in 12 to 24 months. Until the NTSB publishes findings, the cause remains unknown.