A Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, left a large crater and burning wreckage near a residential area, according to officials. (Foto: Instagram)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a Learjet crash on Sunday, Nov. 1, looked like “a missile coming down” and left a large crater beside a road. He made the remarks at a news conference shortly after the crash, which killed nine people.
“It was a catastrophic aviation accident. It looked like a missile coming down. It left a large crater by the side of the road,” DeSantis said. He also called the incident a major tragedy.
The aircraft was preliminarily identified as a Learjet 60. It reportedly struck a tree and brought down power lines before crashing in a residential area in Palm Beach County, near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The crash occurred shortly after 1 p.m. The victims’ names had not been released.
Images shared on social media showed a large crater, burning wreckage and a column of fire. The crash also affected residents of a nearby community: about 600 people had to leave their homes and spend the night in shelters.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, saying officials were closely monitoring the crash and would share updates when more information became available. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances of the crash.
