Jet dives nose first into ground, cause investigated
The gist
A Learjet 60 flying from Austin to the Bahamas crashed nose-first in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine aboard.
The NTSB is investigating whether icing and turbulence brought the jet down.
How it unfolded
- Nov 1, 2026The Learjet 60 crashed nose-first into the ground in Palm Beach County, Florida, just before 1 p.m. Eastern, killing all nine people aboard.
- Nov 1, 2026While cruising at 35,000 feet, pilots reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and asked to climb 2,000 feet; the pilot described 'light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence' and turbulence jolting the jet by as much as 700 feet.
- Nov 1, 2026The plane entered a steep dive, from 10,000 to as much as 30,000 feet per minute, speeding beyond its design limits; the pilot radioed 'We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute' and 'We're going to crash into the ground.'