Learjet erupts in fireball near Palm Beach, killing all 9 aboard
A Learjet 60 nosedived and exploded near West Palm Beach on November 1, killing all nine people aboard.
The plane was carrying seven passengers and two crew on a flight from Texas to the Bahamas when it plunged into the ground near West Palm Beach. Newly released 911 calls reveal how fast it happened: witnesses heard a massive explosion and felt their houses shake, but saw almost nothing.
One caller said 'I think an airplane or rocket, something fell from the sky.' Another reported a 'bomb' and 'really big explosion.'
A retired police officer called about a white vehicle near the crater. Cockpit voice recordings captured the co-pilot declaring a mayday as the jet descended at 20,000 feet per minute.
Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder on November 9. Thunderstorms in the area may have contributed to the crash.
- 9 aboard: 7 passengers and 2 crew
- People killed
- November 1
- Date
- Near West Palm Beach
- Location
- 20,000 feet per minute
- Descent rate
Why it mattersThe crash highlights how sudden aviation disasters can be, leaving even nearby witnesses unable to grasp what happened before it was over.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect. The incident is being investigated by US authorities and reported by Australian media as part of international aviation news.
