A private jet crash in South Florida has left nine people dead and forced hundreds of residents from their homes as emergency crews respond to the aftermath.
The Learjet 60 went down around 12:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Cresthaven area of Palm Beach County, approximately nine miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. (Terms and conditions).
All nine people aboard the plane were killed. Authorities have not yet released their identities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the deaths Sunday afternoon, describing the incident as a “horrific tragedy.” He also said the FAA would send a team to the crash site to assist the National Transportation Safety Board with its investigation.
Video captured by a vehicle’s dashcam shows the aircraft falling rapidly toward the ground before striking nose-first and erupting into a massive fireball. The impact left a large crater and sent debris across the surrounding area.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described the scene as “cataclysmic” while speaking to reporters. He compared the plane’s descent to a missile falling from the sky and said the wreckage was scattered over a significant distance.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE.
Although officials had not received reports of anyone on the ground being injured by the crash, the damage affected nearby residents. The aircraft came down near the entrance of a mobile home park, leaving people unable to return to their homes while investigators secured the area.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR APP AND TAKE US WITH YOU ANYWHERE!
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said local officials were working with the Red Cross to help approximately 600 displaced residents find somewhere safe to stay. Two shelters were being prepared to accommodate those who could not return home.
Military Trail was also shut down between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North as emergency personnel worked at the scene. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue warned drivers and residents to avoid the area, noting that the response would take an extended amount of time.
Related Article: Plane Crash At LaGuardia Airport Kills Pilots, Injures 41 Others
Related Article: What We Know About the Delta Toronto Plane Crash
Federal investigators are expected to examine the wreckage and gather information to determine what caused the aircraft to crash. The FAA and NTSB will lead the investigation, while local officials continue assisting residents affected by the tragedy.
As the investigation gets underway, authorities have not announced what may have caused the deadly crash.
HEAD BACK TO THE RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM HOMEPAGE
