Nine dead in private jet crash in Florida

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, a Learjet 60 private aircraft crashed into a residential area in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida, shortly after 1 p.m. local time. The plane, which had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas en route to the Bahamas, lost altitude rapidly—reportedly over 20,000 feet per minute—before striking a tree and power lines and crashing into a mobile home park, triggering a massive fireball. All nine individuals on board, including a 20-year-old co-pilot named Nathalia Gadelha and a family of four, were killed. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the total loss of life, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported no casualties among ground residents despite the significant destruction of property.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the flight crew encountered icing conditions and turbulence, prompting a request to change altitude before the situation deteriorated. Audio recordings captured the pilot issuing a "Mayday" distress call shortly before the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a formal investigation into the disaster. Authorities have evacuated approximately 600 residents from the impacted area as recovery and site investigation efforts continue.