WASHINGTON, Nov 2 – Nine people were killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in a residential neighbourhood in Florida, United States, on Sunday, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The aircraft crashed near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County at about 12.50 pm Eastern Time. It was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas.
Duffy described the incident as a horrific tragedy. He confirmed that everyone on board had died.
Federal Agencies Investigate the Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a team to support the investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Authorities had not confirmed whether anyone on the ground was injured.
Investigators will examine the aircraft, weather conditions and other evidence to determine what caused the crash.
Pilot Reported Ice and Turbulence
Air traffic control recordings indicate that the pilot reported ice building up on the aircraft shortly before the crash. The pilot also reported moderate turbulence.
The aircraft then declared an emergency. According to the report, it descended about 8.2 kilometres in one minute.
Storms were reported in the area at the time. Local media also reported that the aircraft had passed through a stronger storm cell shortly before it began descending.
However, the cause of the crash has not been confirmed. Investigators will need to establish whether weather conditions or other factors contributed to the accident.
Crash Occurred Near a Major Road
Video footage showed the aircraft descending steeply before it struck the ground near a major roadway. The impact caused a large fire and left a crater at the crash site.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
Source : BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
