'Mayday mayday': Videos show moment Florida jet crashed near busy road
A business jet carrying nine people crashed near a busy road in Florida after the pilot reported severe icing and turbulence. All passengers were killed in the incident, which is currently under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
Why it matters
The crash highlights the dangers of severe weather conditions for aviation and represents a significant loss of life in a public area.
Videos recorded by motorists captured the moment a business jet carrying nine people plunged from the sky and exploded into a fireball near a busy roadway in Florida on Sunday. All nine people aboard the aircraft were killed, US transportation secretary Sean Duffy said as cited by news agency AP.The Bahamas-bound Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, in Palm Beach County, narrowly missing nearby homes and passing vehicles. The impact left a large crater on the roadside, with flames and thick black smoke engulfing the area.Air traffic control recordings reveal the desperate final moments of the flight, as the pilot reported worsening weather conditions, turbulence and ice accumulating on the aircraft before issuing distress calls."We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence," the pilot initially told air traffic controllers.The situation deteriorated rapidly after the aircraft encountered precipitation and requested permission to climb 2,000 feet.
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