Private plane crash kills nine near Florida’s Palm Beach
A private aircraft crashed Sunday in the Palm Beach metropolitan area of Florida, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board, according to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
The plane, which departed from Austin, Texas, with a destination of the Bahamas, plummeted to the ground at 12:50 p.m. local time (17:50 GMT), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The incident occurred approximately 9 miles (14 km) from Mar-a-Lago, the residence of former President Donald Trump.
Images from the crash site depict a crater-sized hole in a residential street in Greenacres, with fire, concrete debris, and wreckage from the Learjet 60 scattered across the area. Reports and flight analysis suggest the aircraft was descending at hundreds of feet per second prior to impact.
A video circulating on social media, appearing to be from a car’s dashboard camera, captured the moment of the crash. The video, the authenticity of which the BBC cannot verify, shows vehicles driving along a street when a plane suddenly plummets vertically and explodes upon impact, creating a large fireball.
“When you see that video, it’s just shocking,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated at a press conference following the accident. “It’s like a missile dropped and there was a massive explosion, with debris flying everywhere.”
Governor DeSantis confirmed that, to date, there are no reports of fatalities or injuries to individuals on the ground.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the event as a “horrible tragedy” and announced the deployment of an FAA team to the site to assist the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. He added, “I ask that you join me in prayer for the families and loved ones of those we have lost.”
The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared the incident as involving multiple victims.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash occurred on Military Trail, a six-lane thoroughfare with businesses and restaurants.
Authorities indicated that approximately 600 residents living in a nearby mobile home park were being evacuated.
The impact caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including water pipes, and officials estimate it will take at least 30 days before the roadway reopens.
Storms and heavy rainfall were occurring in the area at the time of the incident. Former President Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence Sunday morning and departed from a nearby airport aboard Air Force One approximately one hour before the crash.
Source
“"Era como si cayera un misil": 9 muertos al estrellarse un avión privado en un vecindario de Florida”
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