Jakarta, ThedailyID — A Learjet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1. The crash killed nine people and left a massive crater at the scene.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said the aircraft struck the ground at high speed. The impact created a large hole in the road.
The jet crashed in a residential area in southern Florida. The site sits just a few kilometers from Mar-a-Lago, the resort owned by US President Donald Trump.
Videos on social media showed the aircraft hitting the ground beside a road before exploding. Debris spread across the surrounding area.
Miami air traffic control recordings captured the aircraft’s final moments. A person in the cockpit reported moderate turbulence and an apparent ice problem.
Less than a minute later, the pilot issued a distress call. The aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute.
About 20 seconds later, the pilot said, “We’re going to hit the ground.” The pilot also reported a descent rate of 22,000 feet per minute.
Flightradar24 data showed an even faster descent at one point. The aircraft dropped at more than 32,000 feet per minute.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the crash a major tragedy.
“When you see that video, it is shocking. It looks like a missile came down, followed by a massive explosion, with debris scattered everywhere,” DeSantis said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
