The Learjet that crashed in Florida may have begun breaking apart before plunging to the ground in a deadly nosedive that killed all nine people aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board said its investigation into the Nov. 1 crash remains ongoing, but the aircraft’s debris field has already offered investigators important clues.
“We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact. Some of this is yet to be determined,” NTSB member Tom Chapman said during a Nov. 2 press conference. “We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
What Happened to the Learjet Before It Crashed in Florida?
The Learjet 60 business jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to a Nov. 2 statement from the FAA to Oxygen.
The aircraft crashed in a residential area near Cresthaven, Fla., at approximately 12:50 p.m., the agency said. In the moments before the crash, communications from inside the Learjet indicated an emergency.
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“A transmission from the airplane announced the descent, followed by a mayday call about 12:48 Eastern,” Chapman said. “The airplane transmitted, ‘We are in an over-speed condition, descending,’ with the rest unintelligible. Subsequent communications described that the airplane was descending rapidly and gave an altitude callout. Sadly, all aboard were lost.”
Investigators believe the wide debris field could provide crucial evidence as they work to determine what happened.
“It’s a half mile by four-tenths of a mile,” NTSB lead accident investigator Timothy Monville said at the press conference. “It’s scattered among ball fields, businesses, personal residences. And the debris is rather small.”
The NTSB has not disclosed a possible cause of the crash. Bombardier, the Learjet’s manufacturer, said it is prepared to assist with the investigation.
“We at Bombardier are deeply saddened by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to all those affected,” the company told Oxygen in a Nov. 2 statement. “We cannot comment on the potential cause of this accident until the investigation is complete and we will fully support the investigating authorities and cooperate as needed.”
