Nine people have been killed after a private Learjet crashed into a residential neighbourhood in southern Florida, United States, just miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
The fatal crash occurred on Sunday in Palm Beach County, near the Cresthaven neighbourhood, prompting an emergency response and the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the surrounding area.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft died in the incident, describing the crash as a horrific tragedy.
The Learjet 60 had departed from Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas when it went down. The aircraft crashed near the entrance to a mobile home park, leaving a large crater and triggering a fire.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who spoke to reporters near the scene, described the incident as catastrophic, saying the aircraft appeared to plunge towards the ground at tremendous speed.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties among people on the ground.
Approximately 600 residents were evacuated from the affected area and relocated to shelters as emergency officials worked to secure the scene.
The crash site is less than seven miles from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence. The US President had been at the resort earlier on Sunday before departing aboard Air Force One, roughly an hour before the aircraft crashed.
Preliminary reports indicate that the pilots encountered difficult weather conditions before the disaster. Air traffic control recordings captured a crew member reporting moderate turbulence, ice accumulation and precipitation before declaring an emergency.
The aircraft was subsequently reported to be descending rapidly, with the crew issuing distress calls shortly before communications were lost.
However, the exact cause of the crash has not been established.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident to determine what led to the aircraft’s sudden descent and impact.
Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier has also expressed condolences and pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.
The identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash remain key aspects of the ongoing investigation.
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