Nine people have died after a Learjet 60 aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, according to US officials.
The aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven, less than seven miles from US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed, describing the incident as a tragedy.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries among people on the ground.
The crash occurred near the entrance of a mobile home park, prompting the evacuation of approximately 600 residents, according to Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores.
The aircraft had reportedly encountered difficult weather conditions, with storms reported in the area. An audio recording from air traffic control communications captured the crew reporting moderate turbulence and ice accumulation before declaring an emergency.
Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago earlier on Sunday but had departed from the nearby airport aboard Air Force One approximately an hour before the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to investigate the incident to establish its cause.
