‘We will die’: ATC audio, dash cam videos capture shocking final moments of Florida plane crash that killed 9 | Today’s news
Shocking videos have surfaced on social media showing the crash of a private plane in West Palm Beach, Florida, killing all nine people on board on Sunday. Videos, including those captured by on-board cameras of passing vehicles, captured the moment the Learjet 60 fell from the sky and exploded near a busy road in Greenacres, just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago.
The exchange between the pilot and air traffic control also revealed the desperate final moments of the flight, which had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was bound for the Bahamas when it crashed.
‘We’re out of time’
A nearly two-minute audio exchange between the pilot and ATC showed how the situation escalated from “moderate turbulence” to mayday and “we’re going to die” in a matter of seconds.
The pilot first reported worsening weather conditions, turbulence and ice accumulation in the aircraft before issuing an emergency call as the flight continued to descend rapidly.
“We’re descending at 8,000 feet per minute… Mayday, Mayday…,” the woman is heard telling ATC.
The woman then asks ATC to declare an emergency as the business jet continues to descend at 10,000 and then 20,000 feet per minute.
“We’re going to crash… we don’t have time… we’re going to die…” the woman is further heard saying to ATC before communications from the ill-fated plane are cut.
Failed to upload video
Video recorded by people in their cars captured the terrifying moment a plane bound for the Bahamas plummeted from the sky before crashing near a Palm Beach County road and exploding.
Videos showed the plane crashing into the ground at high speed almost vertically, launching a large fireball and leaving a burning crater near a busy road.
Flames flickered around bits of pavement lining the crater as people moved, expressing shock that it had fallen meters from homes and inches from passing vehicles. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site.
NTSB, FAA to investigate
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X that a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m., calling it a “terrible tragedy.” The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation, he said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being injured or killed.
“It was a catastrophic plane crash,” DeSantis told reporters at the scene. “It looked like a rocket had come down and left a big crater on the side of the road.
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.