USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
MapNTSB Says Learjet Broke Up Before Impact in Palm Beach County, Florida
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NTSB preliminary evidence suggests the Learjet began breaking apart before ground impact. Nine people aboard the Learjet were killed in Greenacres, Florida, en route to Bahamas.
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Breakup, ice, and Mayday
A Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida killed all nine people aboard, and the National Transportation Safety Board said the aircraft may have been breaking up before impact. ABC News reported that the Federal Aviation Administration said the Learjet made a rapid dive of about 350 feet per second, and the NTSB said some of what happened before the crash was still to be determined.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, "We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact." The Federal Aviation Administration said the Learjet left Austin, Texas and was en route to the Bahamas, and CBS News said air traffic control audio captured the pilot saying, "We're managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence."
Final moments on radio
The pilot radioed air traffic control that the aircraft was descending rapidly, and CBS News quoted the message, "722 Bravo Delta, we're descending 8,000, Mayday, Mayday, we're descending 10,000 feet per minute."
CBS News said the pilot later declared, "Declare an emergency 722 Bravo Delta, we are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute," as the jet headed toward the ground.
NTSB member Thomas Chapman said during a news conference Monday that the aircraft appeared to start breaking up before it made impact, and he said he expected parts of the plane to be found far away.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel G. Flores said the county "doesn't have a clue" when residents living around the crash site will be able to return home, as about 77 mobile homes were evacuated to a shelter.
Victim identity and next steps
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot, was identified by her mother as one of the nine victims, and CBC News said her mother told NBC affiliate WTVJ that she was the co-pilot.
CBS News said the NTSB will be leading the investigation, and it quoted NTSB member Tom Chapman’s expectation that parts may be found some distance from the impact site.
Fox 13 Tampa Bay said the NTSB announced it would hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Monday at the Emergency Operations Center located at 20 S. Military Trail in West Palm Beach.
Fox 13 Tampa Bay also said the NTSB urged witnesses with photos or video to email witness@ntsb.gov and cautioned the public not to disturb debris as investigators continued work at the crash scene.