Dashcam Captures the Deadly Descent
A driver’s dashcam captured a Learjet 60 plunging almost vertically from the sky before erupting in a fireball near a busy roadway in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County, Florida. The crash happened shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday near South Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Fox News aired the recording, which appears to show the aircraft narrowly missing nearby traffic and homes before striking beside the road. The footage may be disturbing, particularly for the families affected and the first responders who reached the scene.
WATCH: Dashcam video captures the crash of a $2 million Learjet 60 (N722BD) in Palm Springs, Florida. pic.twitter.com/8jmiOMG9ys
— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) November 1, 2026
Officials Confirm Nine People Were Killed
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed. Federal officials identified the plane as a Learjet 60 registered as N722BD. It had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the scene looked like a missile going down, but that description referred to the violent, near-vertical descent. It was not an official finding that a missile, bomb, or other weapon was involved.
Today's plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida is a horrific tragedy
Here's what we know:
- At 12:50 PM ET, a Learjet 60 crashed in a neighborhood near Cresthaven, FL
- All 9 people on board were killed
- The aircraft departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas…— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 1, 2026
The Cause Remains Under Investigation
The extreme damage and large crater led to online questions about whether the aircraft had been hit by a missile, bomb, or explosive-packed drone. So far, there is no verified evidence supporting any of those theories. Preliminary radar information showed an extremely rapid descent during the jet’s final moments, but that data does not explain why the aircraft lost control. Air-traffic-control recordings reviewed by The Associated Press indicated that the crew had reported ice accumulating on the jet, turbulence, and precipitation before the emergency. Those details are part of an aviation investigation, not proof of an attack. Investigators will need to examine the wreckage, flight records, and any available cockpit evidence before reaching a conclusion.
Roadway Closed as Crews Reached the Scene
Emergency crews closed South Military Trail in both directions while firefighters and investigators worked through the crash site. WFLX reported that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue described the response as an extended incident and urged drivers to avoid the area. Flames, thick smoke, and aircraft debris were visible across the roadway. The Federal Aviation Administration sent a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the investigation. Because the crash occurred near homes and heavy traffic, officials had not announced whether anyone on the ground was killed or injured as of Sunday afternoon.
Passenger and Crew Names Had Not Been Released
Authorities had not publicly identified the passengers or crew aboard the Learjet as of Sunday afternoon. The aircraft appears to have missed nearby homes and passing vehicles by a narrow margin, but the loss of all nine people aboard remains a devastating tragedy for their families. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and investigators and first responders continue working to document what happened.
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