A Learjet that crashed near West Palm Beach, Florida, killing all nine people on board, may have begun breaking apart after encountering a severe thunderstorm, investigators believe.
The Learjet 60 was approaching the area on Sunday when the pilots requested an increase in altitude. Moments later, the aircraft entered a steep descent and plunged into an intersection, where it burst into flames.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board said on Monday that severe weather was a significant factor under investigation. Ice accumulation on the aircraft is also being examined.
The jet was flying from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it encountered stormy conditions near Palm Beach County. Air traffic controllers had warned of moderate precipitation to the south-east and described the weather as “pretty nasty”, while also reporting moderate turbulence.
In audio released after the crash, co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras can be heard reporting the emergency to controllers. She said the aircraft was descending at 8,000ft before issuing a mayday call and reporting a descent rate of 10,000ft per minute.
She later said the aircraft was in an “overspeed condition” and was descending at 20,000ft per minute. As the situation worsened, she reported that the jet was banking at 60 degrees before shouting: “We’re out of time.”
A male voice, believed to be that of the pilot, could be heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer, including the words: “Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Filgueiras, 20, was at the controls, according to her family. She had grown up in Palm Beach County and obtained her pilot’s licence in 2023, aged 17.
Her stepfather, Thiago, said she had texted her pilot boyfriend about ten minutes before the crash, warning: “I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice.” Her mother, Camila, said Filgueiras loved the freedom of flying and seeing the world from above.
Some aviation experts have suggested the aircraft may have encountered what is known as “coffin corner” while attempting to climb above two storm systems. The phenomenon occurs at high altitude when a jet’s minimum and maximum safe speeds converge, leaving only a narrow margin for safe flight.
However, officials have not established the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the NTSB investigation.
The crash happened about eight miles from President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The impact left a large crater in the road and scattered debris over a wide area, but authorities said nobody on the ground was killed or injured, apart from a man who suffered a leg injury after being struck by debris.
The identities of the other eight people on board have not been released. Rumours that musician Lenny Kravitz was among the passengers were denied by his representative.
Conditions in the West Palm Beach area at the time were overcast, with rain and lightning, easterly winds of 15mph and gusts of nearly 25mph. Visibility was reported as seven miles.
