Nine fatalities in Florida private jet crash on November 1

On November 1, 2026, a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine people aboard. The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

The crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time near Military Trail in the Greenacres area, close to Lake Worth Beach. The jet struck the ground beside a roadway, resulting in a large crater and debris scattered across the vicinity, with thick smoke rising from the site.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the destruction as jarring, likening the crash to a missile strike. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties among residents on the ground.

Emergency responders evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile-home community. Preliminary air traffic control communications revealed that the pilot reported icing conditions and turbulence before declaring an emergency, with the aircraft descending rapidly.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash, considering factors such as weather conditions at the time.