A Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed into a residential area in Florida’s Palm Beach County on Sunday, killing everyone on board and injuring a nearby driver.
The aircraft was flying from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it encountered severe weather, including reported icing and turbulence. Audio recordings captured the pilot declaring an emergency and reporting a rapid descent before communication was lost.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation, alongside the decisions made by the flight crew and air-traffic controllers.
Investigators are examining whether a powerful thunderstorm exposed the aircraft to dangerous icing, turbulence and conditions that may have caused it to lose control.
The crash left a debris field stretching about half a mile. The NTSB is also investigating whether the aircraft broke apart during its descent and reviewing its maintenance records and flight data.
