Investigators are examining evidence that a Learjet 60 may have broken apart before crashing into a Florida highway, killing all nine people aboard and injuring a motorist. The National Transportation Safety Board said the possible separation is under investigation, not a confirmed cause of the crash.
The jet went down on Military Trail near Lake Worth Beach at about 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1. It was traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, according to the NTSB. The impact created a large crater and scattered debris across nearby properties.
“We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact,” NTSB board member Tom Chapman said at a news conference. Investigators said they may find parts of the aircraft away from the crash site.
Weather and wreckage recovery are key parts of the inquiry
The NTSB said severe storms and heavy rain affected the area, and weather will be a major focus of its investigation. Rainwater partially filled the crater, complicating efforts to recover the main wreckage, investigator Tim Monville said.
Air traffic control recordings captured the crew discussing turbulence, icing and precipitation before reporting a rapid descent and declaring an emergency. Investigators are also trying to establish whether a cockpit voice recorder was aboard and whether it can be recovered. The cause of the crash has not been determined.
A family statement named passengers Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, their children Emma and Charlie, nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The co-pilot, 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras, also died. The pilot was identified in media reports as Jeffrey Gregory, 55. The family described Robinson and Sharp as devoted parents and said Cetina had cared for their children. The BBC reported the victims’ names and family statements.
A man in a car struck by the crash sustained a leg injury. Investigators have not announced a determination on what caused the Learjet to descend and crash.