Florida plane crash kills 9 as investigators probe whether weather played a role
Nine people were killed when an airplane crashed into a Florida neighborhood, as investigators examine whether weather conditions may have contributed to the incident. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a Learjet 60 crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, just before 1 p.m. on Sunday.
CRESTHAVEN, Flo. - Nine people were killed when an airplane crashed into a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, as investigators examine whether weather conditions may have contributed to the incident.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a Learjet 60 crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, just before 1 p.m. on Sunday. All nine people on board were killed.
The crash left a massive crater on the side of the road and caused significant debris and damage to surrounding infrastructure. In a press conference Sunday, Governor Ron DeSantis said roughly 600 residents are being assisted with temporary shelter and other essential needs.
"This was a cataclysmic plane crash. It looked like a missile going down. It left a big crater on the side of the road," DeSantis said during the press conference.
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"There was a lot of debris that was spewed as a result of this crash. As of now, we don't have any reports of anyone who was on the ground apart from the people in the plane who were killed or injured as a result of the debris," he said.
The plane took off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it encountered ice and reported turbulence.
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Crew reports indicate the pilot asked the air traffic controller for a better ride, and shortly after encountered precipitation.
The FOX Forecast Center said at the surface, both airports reported moderate winds and thunderstorms in the area.
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"The plane likely flew through a developing thunderstorm that moved in from the south-east approximately five minutes prior to the crash," the FOX Forecast Center said.
The estimated cloud height of the storm was around 44,000 feet — about 7,000 feet higher than the plane was flying. Because of this, it is likely that weather played a role in the crash, the FOX Forecast Center said.
However, it is not 100% certain until officials conduct and finalize their investigation.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will handle the investigation.
The NTSB has launched its rapid response team of specialists to investigate the plane crash.
The FOX Forecast Center said a SIGMET warning — an aviation weather advisory alerting pilots to significant, potentially hazardous conditions such as severe thunderstorms and icing — was in effect at the time of the crash.
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The warning indicated that severe turbulence, in-flight icing and hail were all possible.
Duffy called the crash a "horrific tragedy." Officials have not yet identified the people who died, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The NTSB will hold a press briefing at 1 p.m. EST to provide the latest information.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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