Breaking: 9 killed as Learjet crashes near homes in Palm Beach County, Florida

A Learjet 60 business jet carrying nine people crashed into a Palm Beach County, Florida, neighborhood around 12:50 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, and all nine people aboard were killed, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, according to The Associated Press. The jet nose-dived and erupted into a fireball that appeared to just miss homes before it hit near a busy roadway, the AP reported.

The plane went down near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, near an entrance to a mobile home community in the Greenacres area, WPBF reported. The Federal Aviation Administration said the jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to WPTV.

What did officials say?

Duffy said on X that the FAA is sending a team to the scene to support the NTSB's investigation, and he asked people to pray for the families and loved ones of those who died, NBC 6 South Florida reported.

Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the scene and called the crash "cataclysmic," saying it left a large crater along Military Trail, WPTV reported. DeSantis said the debris field stretched a significant distance and praised Palm Beach County first responders for their quick response, WPTV reported.

A spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said the jet was a private aircraft and gave its tail number as N722BD, the AP reported. Federal records list that aircraft as registered to LR60271 LLC, a company with a Wilmington, Delaware, address, according to the FAA aircraft registry.

Was anyone on the ground hurt?

At the time of Sunday's news conference, officials said they had not received reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured by the crash or its debris, WPTV reported. As of 4 p.m. ET, there was no confirmation of deaths among people on the ground, USA Today reported.

It was unclear whether the crash damaged any homes, the AP reported.

What does this mean for nearby residents and drivers?

County officials said two shelters were on standby and Palm Tran was ready to transport residents of the mobile home community once law enforcement allowed the relocation to begin, WPTV reported.

Palm Beach County said Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive will stay closed until further notice, with only emergency vehicles allowed in, according to WPTV. Drivers are asked to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel and Haverhill Road and Kirk Road for north-south travel, the county said.

What we know

The FAA said nine people were aboard the Learjet 60 and that its information is preliminary and subject to change, WPTV reported. Duffy said all nine were killed, according to the AP.

Greenacres Fire Rescue said the crash happened just outside the city's boundary, and it sent four units to help, WPBF reported. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is managing the incident, according to a statement from the Village of Palm Springs cited by WPBF.

What we don't know yet

Authorities have not said who was on board, WFTV reported. Details about what may have caused the crash have not been shared, CBS News Miami reported.

What's next

The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide updates, the FAA said, according to WPTV. A county commissioner cautioned that parts of Military Trail could face an extended closure, and county officials said the timeline will depend on the federal investigation, WPTV reported.

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