Emergency response at the scene of a Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida.
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Nine Killed in Florida Learjet Crash Near Trump’s Resort

Nine Killed as Learjet Crashes Near Trump’s Florida Resort

A Learjet 60 has crashed into a residential neighbourhood in southern Florida, killing all nine people aboard the aircraft, officials have confirmed. The plane went down on Sunday in Palm Beach County, a few miles from US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, triggering a massive fire and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft descending at a steep angle before striking the ground at high speed, producing a huge fireball and leaving a burning crater near a busy road. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities, describing the incident as a devastating tragedy. “Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, is a horrific tragedy,” Duffy said in a statement. He disclosed that the Learjet 60 had departed Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas when it crashed.  


Blazing Roadside Wreckage and Smoke


Florida Governor Reacts to Deadly Plane Crash

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also described the incident as a devastating aviation disaster while speaking to reporters at the scene. “This is clearly a devastating plane crash,” he said. Describing what he witnessed, DeSantis added: “It looked like a missile going down.” The governor further stated that there were no immediate reports of injuries among people on the ground.

Hundreds Evacuated After Aircraft Crashes Near Mobile Home Park

Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said the aircraft crashed close to the entrance of a mobile home park. Following the incident, approximately 600 residents were evacuated from the area and relocated to shelters as emergency officials responded to the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it would investigate the crash alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash,” the agency said in a statement.

Trump Left Florida Resort Shortly Before Crash

The crash occurred while President Trump was in the Palm Beach area. Trump had spent Sunday at his Mar-a-Lago resort but departed from the nearby President Donald J. Trump International Airport aboard Air Force One at 11:55 a.m. local time (1655 GMT). His departure reportedly took place about an hour before the Learjet crashed. There was no indication that the President or his travelling party was affected by the incident.

Cockpit Recording Captures Final Moments Before Crash

Reports indicated that storms were affecting the area around the time of the accident. Trump was also seen carrying an umbrella as he boarded Air Force One. A recording shared on the air traffic monitoring website LiveATC.net reportedly captured a person in the aircraft’s cockpit describing moderate turbulence and efforts to manage ice accumulation. The person also said the plane was encountering precipitation and needed to climb. Moments later, the cockpit recording captured an emergency declaration as the aircraft reportedly began descending rapidly. “Mayday, mayday, we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the person said. A few seconds later, another emergency call reportedly indicated that the aircraft was descending at approximately 20,000 feet per minute. “We’re going to crash into the ground,” the person said shortly before communication ended. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, with the FAA and NTSB expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions and other available evidence to establish what caused the disaster.