Plane Crashes in Florida, Several Feared Dead
By Sabiu Abdullahi
A Learjet 60 aircraft has crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, in the US state of Florida, with reports indicating that several people may have died.
Emergency response teams were deployed to the scene on Sunday afternoon following the incident, which occurred near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the crash in a statement, announcing the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of Military Trail until further notice.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
Videos circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a sharp turn before plunging towards the ground near a mobile home park, where it reportedly struck and destroyed a trailer, triggering a massive fireball.
Flight-tracking information from ADS-B Exchange indicated that the aircraft descended approximately 27,000 feet within one minute before its tracking signal was lost.
Although reports indicated that several people had died, authorities had not confirmed the number of casualties as of the time of reporting. It was also unclear whether anyone on the ground was killed or injured.
The aircraft, identified as a Learjet 60 business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The aircraft model typically accommodates six to seven passengers and a two-person crew.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the crash would be investigated in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board to determine its cause and other circumstances surrounding the incident.
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