Learjet breakup suspected in Florida crash that killed 9

The National Transportation Safety Board reported on Monday that the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday may have suffered structural failure in the air. NTSB member Tom Chapman stated investigators found evidence of 'some breakup' of the aircraft before it hit the ground. All nine people on board died in the accident, which occurred around 12:50 p.m. near the Cresthaven neighborhood in Greenacres.

The plane departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas with a destination of North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. It struck a road at high speed, creating a fiery explosion and a large crater. Seven passengers and two crew members were aboard. The passengers were Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, their children Emma (age 4) and Charlie (age 2), Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Cetina. The co-pilot was Nathalia Filgueiras, age 20.

Air traffic control recordings captured the final moments of the flight. A woman on the plane reported light ice and moderate turbulence about two minutes before the crash. She stated the precipitation was manageable but requested a climb in altitude, which controllers approved. Less than 30 seconds later, she declared a mayday, stating the jet was descending 10,000 feet per minute. She later screamed that the descent rate had increased to 20,000 feet per minute and that the aircraft was in an over-speed condition.

Families of the victims issued a joint statement on Monday. They described the children as the light of their lives. The statement noted that Cetina cared for the children and was considered part of the family. Nathalia Filgueiras' sister, Giulia, said her sister learned to fly from her father and that aviation was her dream since childhood.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said approximately 600 people were displaced from their homes. He specified that about 77 mobile homes near the wreckage were evacuated. Residents do not know when they will return home as officials work to clear the scene. A flood watch remained in effect for southern Florida on Sunday, with showers and thunderstorms forecast through Monday. The NTSB identified weather conditions as a major focus of the investigation.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the jet as looking like a missile due to its speed. He called the event cataclysmic and noted the debris spread over a wide area. Bombardier, the manufacturer of the Learjet, said it was deeply saddened by the crash. The company stated it would cooperate fully with authorities and would not comment on the cause until the investigation concludes.