Nine people have been killed after a Learjet 60 aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, southern Florida, just a few miles from US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.According to reports, the aircraft crashed near Cresthaven, less than seven miles from the resort, on Sunday, prompting emergency responses and the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy. He said the aircraft departed Austin, Texas, and was travelling to the Bahamas when the crash occurred.Unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft descending rapidly before hitting the ground, triggering a massive explosion and fire.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the incident as catastrophic, saying the aircraft appeared to be descending like a missile.
“Obviously this is a cataclysmic plane crash. It looked like a missile going down,” DeSantis told reporters near the scene.
He added that no injuries had been reported among residents or other people on the ground.Meanwhile, Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores disclosed that the aircraft crashed close to the entrance of a mobile home park, forcing authorities to evacuate approximately 600 residents to nearby shelters.
DISTRESS CALLS RECORDED BEFORE CRASH
An audio recording shared on LiveATC.net, an air traffic monitoring platform, reportedly captured a member of the aircraft’s crew describing worsening weather conditions before the crash.The crew member was heard reporting moderate turbulence, precipitation and efforts to manage ice accumulation on the aircraft.
In the recording, the pilot reportedly requested to climb before declaring an emergency.
“Mayday, mayday, we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the crew member was heard saying.
The reported descent rate subsequently increased to approximately 20,000 feet per minute, with the crew member expressing fears that the aircraft was about to hit the ground.Communication was lost shortly afterwards.
AUTHORITIES LAUNCH INVESTIGATION
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.Initial reports indicated that storms had been recorded in the area, raising questions about the possible impact of weather conditions on the aircraft. However, authorities have yet to establish the definitive cause of the accident.
President Donald Trump, who had been at his Mar-a-Lago resort, reportedly departed from the nearby airport aboard Air Force One at approximately 11:55 a.m., about an hour before the crash.The investigation is expected to establish what led to the aircraft’s rapid descent and whether weather conditions or mechanical problems contributed to the tragedy.
NewsClip Media will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information1
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