The Learjet that crashed in Florida may have begun breaking apart before plunging to the ground, killing all nine people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board said its investigation into the Nov. 1 crash remains underway, though the widespread debris field has already offered 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 Crashing In Florida?
The Learjet 60 business jet left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, according to the FAA, which provided the details to Oxygen in a Nov. 2 statement.
At approximately 12:50 p.m., the aircraft crashed in a residential area near Cresthaven, Fla., the agency said. In the moments before the impact, distress could be heard in communications from inside the Learjet.
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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 are now examining the extensive debris field, which could prove critical in determining what happened before the fatal crash.
“It’s a half mile by four-tenths of a mile,” NTSB lead accident investigator Timothy Monville said during the press conference. “It’s scattered among ball fields, businesses, personal residences. And the debris is rather small.”
The NTSB has not identified a possible cause of the crash. Learjet manufacturer Bombardier, however, said it would assist investigators.
“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.”