Pilot Calls Final Warning As Learjet Falls Into Florida Neighborhood
NTSB investigators say the plane may have broken apart mid-air before crashing near Palm Springs, leaving nine people dead and hundreds of residents displaced.
By Isaac Medina ·
A Learjet 60 crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board announced early findings on Monday, stating that the aircraft likely began disintegrating before it struck the ground. The impact created a large crater near a roadway and scattered debris across nearby homes and businesses.
The flight departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at approximately 10:37 a.m. Sunday, heading for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Two crew members and seven passengers were aboard. At 12:47 p.m., the crew reported light icing, moderate turbulence, and altitude deviations of about 700 feet while flying at 35,000 feet. The outside temperature was recorded at minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
The crew requested and received permission to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds later, the aircraft began a rapid descent. Air traffic control recordings show the pilot declaring an emergency and reporting an overspeed condition. The pilot stated the plane was descending at 8,000 feet, then 10,000 feet per minute, before reaching 22,000 feet per minute while banking at 60 degrees.
In the final moments captured on the cockpit audio recorder, the pilot said, "We're gonna crash into the ground." The recording also included a transmission saying "Look outside" before the signal ended. The NTSB has not yet determined the specific cause of the rapid descent.
Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was identified as the co-pilot. Her mother and stepfather told the New York Post that she started flight lessons in 2020 and earned her private pilot's license at 17. She attended the Aviation Academy at West Boca Raton High School and was pursuing a commercial airline pilot career. Authorities have not yet released the names of the other eight victims.
NTSB Member Tom Chapman and Investigator-in-Charge Timothy Monville briefed reporters on Monday. Chapman said the agency is examining weather data and attempting to recover a cockpit voice recorder. Investigators noted that the debris field included parts found far from the main crash site, suggesting structural failure in the air. The NTSB is also reviewing the aircraft's history for any prior issues.
Palm Beach County has declared a state of emergency. Officials estimate that hundreds of people were evacuated from the affected area. Residents in damaged mobile homes are staying with relatives or in shelters. The county is distributing transit vouchers and working with nonprofits to provide temporary housing and rental cars for those displaced from their homes.
Investigators are currently working to remove the main wreckage from the roadway and assess structural damage. Weather conditions have delayed some of the on-site work. The NTSB has not set a timeline for completing its investigation or determining the probable cause.
