LR60271 LLC Learjet 60 plane crash

The Learjet 60 had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Texas, United States, on a private flight to North Eleuthera, Bahamas. Nine people were on board. While flying over southern Florida, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude before crashing into a residential area of Greenacres, near West Palm Beach, in Palm Beach County. The impact was followed by an explosion and a fire that destroyed the aircraft. All nine occupants were killed.

Videos recorded from the ground show the twin-engine business jet descending along an almost vertical trajectory before striking the ground near a road and several houses. The impact created a crater in the roadway.

After passing Naples, Florida, at flight level FL410 (41,000 feet), the aircraft descended to FL350 (35,000 feet) and turned left, heading northeast. The aircraft then turned east and briefly climbed to FL354 (35,400 feet). From that point on, the aircraft entered a descending right-hand turn, with an increasing rate of descent that eventually exceeded 30,000 feet per minute.

Thunderstorm cells were present in the area at the time of the accident. Weather data indicate that the aircraft had flown through an area of intense precipitation just minutes before its sudden descent.

Videos of the aircraft recorded from the ground appear to show that the elevator was missing, suggesting a possible in-flight structural failure. However, this hypothesis should be treated with considerable caution.

The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business jet developed by Learjet, designed for medium- and long-range flights at high speeds. Powered by two jet engines, the type entered service in 1993. The Learjet 60 involved in the accident carried the US registration N722BD.