Plane may have broken apart ahead of deadly Florida jet crash, say investigators

What the report says

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says it will investigate whether a Learjet 60 that crashed in Florida may have broken apart before it hit the ground, in addition to examining weather and flight conditions. The jet was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas on Sunday when it went down on a street in Palm Beach County, about nine miles from Mar-a-Lago, the private club associated with President Donald Trump.

According to the report, everyone aboard died in the crash, including a tech entrepreneur, his wife and two children, the copilot, and three other passengers. One person on the ground was also injured. Officials said the aircraft had reported ice and moderate turbulence after takeoff, and investigators are looking at whether those factors, along with thunderstorms in the area, played a role.

The NTSB said determining the cause will take time. Investigators are also trying to confirm whether a cockpit voice recorder was on board and recover the wreckage from the roadway and surrounding area. Flight data and air traffic control audio suggest the jet descended rapidly before impact, and officials said debris was spread across nearby businesses, homes and fields, raising questions about whether the aircraft broke apart in flight.

The crash occurred on Military Trail, a busy six-lane road, and drew a response from the FAA, Learjet representatives and weather and air traffic experts working with the NTSB.