LAGOS NOVEMBER 2ND (NEWSRANGERS)-A Learjet believed to be carrying nine people crashed on Sunday afternoon in Palm Beach County, Florida, after making a rapid dive of about 350 feet per second, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane, a 22-year-old twin-engine Learjet 60, crashed after taking off from Austin, Texas, and was headed to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, according to the FAA.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, the FAA said.
Photos and videos online showed a jet hitting the ground nose-first and bursting into a fireball. The impact of the crash left a crater near a shopping center.
The jet crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue, in the Greenacres community of Palm Beach County, authorities said.
There was no immediate word from authorities on deaths and injuries.
The plane went from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in a little over a minute, or roughly 350 feet per second, before it slammed into the ground, according to the FAA.
“Obviously, this was a cataclysmic plane crash,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press briefing on Sunday. “It looked like a missile going down. It left a big crater on the side of the road.”
“I think people will recognize this as a major tragedy,” he said.
According to records, the plane belongs to a private company and has been used as a rental in the past.
Here are snippets of some of the conversations:
ATC: “What’s the outside air temperature?”
Pilot: “Minus 47 degrees Celsius. We’re managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence.”
ATC: “Let me know if you need anything else. I’m just working you into my airspace right now.”
Pilot: “Now we’re picking up precipitation. We need to climb.”
ATC: “Roger. Climb and maintain.”
Pilot: “We’re descending 8,000. Mayday, mayday. We’re descending 10,000 feet per minute. Declaring emergency 722 Bravo Delta. We are in an oversea condition, descending 20,000 feet per minute.”
ATC: “Let me know what you need.”
Pilot: “We’re gonna crash into the ground.”
ATC: “November two Bravo Delta. I’m here with you. Talk to me.”
Pilot: “We are descending 22,000 feet, and we are banking 60 degrees.”
Pilot: (Inaudible screaming) “Look outside.”
ATC: “November two Bravo Delta. How do you hear?”
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