Newly surfaced air traffic control audio reveals that the pilots of a private Learjet 60 reported icing, moderate turbulence, and a sudden dive reaching 22,000 feet per minute moments before crashing in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, Nov. 1, killing all nine people on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the business jet, carrying tail number N722BD, went down at approximately 12:50 p.m. EST near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Palm Springs area. The twin-engine aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at 10:37 a.m. EST, and FAA officials said it was flying to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the Florida plane crash occurred. Two other outlets, Hindustan Times and DNA India, reported that the flight was headed toward Freeport in the Bahamas.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Sunday that all nine people aboard the aircraft died and described the loss as a tragedy. Speaking at an afternoon press conference on Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said officials had received no reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured.
What the Final Learjet 60 Cockpit Audio Reveals
Radio transmissions archived by LiveATC.Net captured the final minutes of communication between the cockpit crew and air traffic controllers. When a controller asked for the outside air temperature at altitude, the pilot answered, “Minus 47 degrees Celsius. We’re managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence.”
The controller told the crew, “Let me know if you need anything else. I’m just working you into my airspace right now.” Seconds later, the pilot radioed back, “Now we’re picking up precipitation. We need to climb.”
Although the controller cleared the aircraft to climb and maintain altitude, the jet rapidly lost control and entered a steep descent. According to the transcript published by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the pilot radioed, “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.” Other outlets reviewing the cockpit audio recording, including Hindustan Times and DNA India, reported that the pilot stated the plane was overspeeding during the 20,000-feet-per-minute plunge, while ZeroHedge reported the phrase as an emergency condition.
After the controller responded, “Let me know what you need,” the pilot replied, “We’re gonna crash into the ground.”
The controller answered, “November two Bravo Delta. I’m here with you. Talk to me.” In the final recorded transmission from the cockpit, the pilot stated, “We are descending 22,000 feet, and we are banking 60 degrees.” The controller called back, “November two Bravo Delta. How do you hear?” before radio contact ended.
Flight Tracking Data and Ground Impact
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) tracking data from Flightradar24, which transmits a plane’s satellite position and altitude to ground receivers, matched the rapid descent heard on the radio. According to AVweb, the 22-year-old jet — registered to Wilmington, Delaware-based corporation LR60271 LLC — climbed to a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet after leaving Austin and descended to 35,000 feet near Naples, Florida, at 12:35 p.m. EST.
At 12:48 p.m. EST, the aircraft climbed briefly before entering a steep right-hand turn, dropping from 35,250 feet to its last recorded altitude of 8,750 feet in one minute. Flightradar24 telemetry showed the jet’s vertical descent rate exceeded 32,000 feet per minute during the dive. Thunderstorms were active in the Palm Beach area at the time, with wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph and visibility ranging between two and 10 miles.
Dashcam video recorded by motorist Aki Kuusisto showed the aircraft plunging nose-first into the roadside, bursting into flames and sending black smoke over the neighborhood. DeSantis told reporters on Sunday that the impact resembled a missile hitting the ground and left a deep crater alongside the road while scattering debris across the area. Adjacent jurisdictions and federal agencies have referred to the impact site near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North by overlapping local names, including Palm Springs, Cresthaven, Greenacres, and Lake Worth Beach.
Neighborhood Evacuations and Federal Investigation
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department deputies and county fire rescue crews arrived immediately after the crash, which severed overhead power lines and ruptured underground water mains. Emergency officials evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home park to two temporary shelters with help from the American Red Cross.
Local authorities closed nearby John I. Leonard Community High School for Monday, Nov. 2, and warned residents that the damaged stretch of road around Military Trail and 10th Avenue North could stay closed for at least 30 days for debris removal and utility repairs. Officials have not yet released the names of the nine victims or confirmed whether any of the passengers or crew were Florida residents.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched go-teams to Palm Beach County on Sunday night and Monday morning to examine the wreckage, radar logs, and weather conditions. The NTSB scheduled a media briefing in West Palm Beach for Monday, Nov. 2, to provide updates on the investigation.