Sean Duffy confirms all 9 aboard executive jet killed in West Palm Beach crash

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Sunday that all nine individuals aboard a private jet died in a crash in West Palm Beach, Florida. The aircraft, identified as a Learjet 60, descended sharply into a residential neighborhood before exploding near a busy roadway.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the jet departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas en route to the Bahamas. Duffy stated that the FAA will dispatch a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in determining the cause of the accident.

The crash site is located near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. Palm Beach County Police closed the roads in both directions and urged drivers to avoid the area. Emergency crews, including firefighters, responded to the scene immediately after the impact.

Video footage captured by drivers in nearby cars shows the aircraft plummeting before striking the ground. The explosion created a large fireball and left a substantial crater in the pavement. Thick black smoke rose from the debris, which included scattered pieces of road surface.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bystanders walking around the impact zone in shock. The jet crashed within meters of local homes and just centimeters from passing vehicles. A woman working in the vicinity reported that electricity in the area remained cut for approximately two hours following the collision.

Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, identified the aircraft as private with tail number N722BD. He did not release details about the passengers or crew. Reynolds described the incident as a definite tragedy.

Authorities have not yet released the names of those on board or confirmed any injuries to people on the ground. The investigation into the specific circumstances of the crash is ongoing.