Florida Learjet crash probe points to mid-air break-up; nine dead

· Security · United States

US air safety investigators said there are early indications the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday had broken up before impacting the ground, killing all nine people on board and injuring at least one person on the ground. The jet crashed into a residential neighbourhood near President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, leaving a large crater. In air traffic audio, a crew member could be heard shouting: "We are going to crash into the ground!" The NTSB is investigating, and NASA chief Jared Isaacman defended the flight's copilot amid online criticism.

Why it matters:The crash raises questions about the safety of private business jets and the risks of flight paths over populated areas.

Key points

  • All nine people on board died; at least one person on the ground was injured.
  • Investigators cite early signs the jet broke up before impact.
  • The crash left a crater near Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day