Nine people have been confirmed dead after a private jet crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States.
The aircraft, identified as a Learjet 60, crashed at about 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, according to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft died in the incident.
Reports indicated that the private jet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was travelling to the Bahamas when it crashed.
Footage from the scene showed the aircraft falling from the sky before bursting into flames near a busy roadway. The impact reportedly created a large crater in the road, while thick smoke rose into the air.
The crash happened close to residential buildings and vehicles travelling along the road, raising concerns about the possibility of casualties on the ground. However, authorities had not confirmed whether anyone outside the aircraft was injured as of Sunday evening.
Following the incident, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed several roads around the crash site and advised motorists to stay away from the affected area.
The FAA also announced that it was deploying a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The investigation is expected to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
Meanwhile, the identities of the nine victims had not been officially released as of Sunday evening.
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