Florida crash: 9 killed after private jet nosedives near homes in Palm Beach County, erupts into fireball

All nine people on board a private business jet were killed when the aircraft crashed in a residential neighbourhood in South Florida on Sunday afternoon, erupting into flames near a major road and narrowly avoiding nearby homes.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the incident as a “horrific tragedy”. The aircraft, identified as a twin-engine Learjet 60, had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County.

Officials said the jet plunged into a steep nose-dive moments before crashing near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North.

Videos recorded by passing motorists showed the aircraft hurtling towards the ground before crashing onto the road, triggering a massive explosion. The impact created a charred crater at the site, while thick clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky, visible from several miles away.

  BREAKING: New footage captures the aircraft crash in Greenacres, Florida. Preliminary information suggests the aircraft that crashed is a business jet. https://t.co/pMEsJerhgZ

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) November 1, 2026 p>

Emergency response teams, including officials from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and local fire departments, rushed to the crash site to extinguish the fire and secure the area. Authorities also closed roads in both directions near the scene.

The crash triggered power outages in the surrounding area, with local workers reporting that electricity supply remained disrupted for nearly two hours.

The aircraft crashed dangerously close to residential properties, including a nearby mobile home community. However, authorities had not immediately established whether any houses sustained significant damage or if anyone on the ground was injured.

The identities of the nine victims have not yet been made public. Officials are expected to inform their families before releasing their names.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances and cause of the crash.

As part of the investigation, NTSB officials are expected to inspect the wreckage, examine available flight data and review air traffic control communications. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.