A private jet crashed into a residential area in South Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The crash occurred near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County, about nine miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Learjet 60 had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft crashed at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, describing the incident as a “horrific tragedy.”
The co-pilot was identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras. Filgueiras graduated high school in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2024.
Air traffic control recordings indicate that the pilots reported icing, moderate turbulence and precipitation before the aircraft entered a steep descent. The pilot initially reported that the jet was descending at 10,000 feet per minute before later telling controllers it was in an overspeed condition and descending at 20,000 feet per minute. Flight-tracking data cited by aviation reports indicated that the descent rate later exceeded 30,000 feet per minute. The cause of the crash has not been determined.
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A crew member declared an emergency, reporting an overspeed condition as the jet continued to descend. In the audio, a crew member can be heard declaring a mayday and saying the aircraft was descending at “20,000 feet per minute” and that “we are going to crash into the ground.”
Weather reports from South Florida indicated heavy rain, icing, thunderstorms and turbulence in the region. An aviation expert said these conditions could be among the factors investigators examine. The FAA is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation.
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Dashcam footage from a vehicle shows the aircraft’s final moments as it descends nearly vertically before exploding and catching fire.
The identities of the nine people aboard had not been officially released in initial reports.
“As of now, we don’t have any reports of anyone who was on the ground … who was killed or injured,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Palm Beach County authorities evacuated about 600 residents from a nearby mobile-home community as officials responded to the crash. Military Trail was closed, with authorities saying it would remain shut until further notice.
Editor’s note: This article is being updated as more information becomes available.