Nine People Aboard Business Jet That Crashed in Florida Have Died

 Image via [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/01/business-jet-crash-florida). A business jet carrying nine people crashed into a residential neighborhood in South Florida on Sunday at 12:50pm local time, killing all onboard. The Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas. Flight tracking data revealed the plane descended at an alarming rate, exceeding 32,000 feet per minute before impact. Pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation shortly before the crash, requesting to climb higher. Despite these conditions, the aircraft entered a steep dive, surpassing its design limits. The pilot declared an emergency, stating they were descending at 8,000 feet per minute and later at 20,000 feet per minute, with a final distress call indicating they were 'going to crash into the ground'. Eyewitness accounts and video footage show the aircraft striking the ground at high speed before exploding in a fireball. The crash site was near a busy roadway, with flames flickering around debris and chunks of pavement. A woman working nearby reported that electricity in the area had been out for approximately two hours following the incident. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the incident as a 'cataclysmic' event, noting that the plane appeared to have struck the ground like a missile, leaving behind a significant crater on the side of the road. There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities among people on the ground, though local authorities evacuated about 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is supporting the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the cause of the crash. Sources: [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/01/business-jet-crash-florida) · [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/2/nine-die-in-cataclysmic-florida-business-jet) · [abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-02/business-jet-carrying-9-people-crashes-in-florida-neighbourhood/107335094) · [X / @AP](https://x.com/AP/status/2117010395869155670)