A $2 million Learjet 60 crashed into a Florida mobile home park on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The plane nose-dived near Greenacres around 1:25 p.m. and erupted into a massive fireball.
Residents described debris hitting their homes and roads covered in flames. The crash forced roughly 600 people to leave their homes for safety.
Local resident Anthony Blackmon stood about 500 feet from the crash site when it happened. He told the New York Post, “Debris was everywhere. Debris hit my house. Everything was on fire. The road was on fire.”
Another neighbor, Roger Forcelle, felt the aircraft shake his house just before it hit the ground. “It shook the whole house.” According to reports, it flew directly overhead and likely struck the ground under half a mile from his residence. He observed that residents emerged from their homes since the shaking was palpable.
Forcelle remarked that while he had seen such events on the news, he never expected it to occur this near to someone as it did today.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the event a “cataclysmic plane crash” during a press conference. He told reporters, “Obviously, this was a cataclysmic plane crash.” The object resembled a descending missile and created a large crater along the roadside.
The governor also mentioned that significant debris was scattered due to the crash. He confirmed that no one on the ground was killed or injured, which officials called a miracle.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said the immediate priority was sheltering the displaced residents. Our immediate focus is on evacuating the neighboring community situated directly behind. Flores stated that approximately 600 individuals require guaranteed shelter and food for tonight.
Local businesses near the crash site will remain shut down for the near future while the area is secured.
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a “go-team” to the scene to begin their investigation. Air traffic control audio captured the pilot’s final moments, with one voice heard saying, “holy f–k, we’re out of time.”
The jet had departed from Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas before the disaster. Per reports, the aircraft was a Learjet 60 carrying nine passengers and crew members.
