NTSB says Learjet may have broken apart before Florida crash
Investigators found early evidence that the aircraft disintegrated in the air before striking the ground near Palm Springs, killing all nine people aboard.
By Larissa Shah ·
The National Transportation Safety Board reported on Monday that a Learjet 60 likely began breaking apart in midair before it crashed near Palm Springs, Florida, on Sunday. The agency’s preliminary findings suggest the structural failure occurred before the plane made contact with the ground, a detail that shapes the current direction of the inquiry.
NTSB Member Tom Chapman and Investigator-in-Charge Timothy Monville briefed reporters on the agency’s initial assessment. Chapman offered condolences to the families of the nine people killed, stating, "We are truly sorry for your loss." The NTSB arrived at the scene Sunday evening with approximately 20 investigators, joined by additional staff and the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday.
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at 10:37 a.m. Sunday, bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The flight crew consisted of two pilots and seven passengers. By 12:47 p.m., the crew reported light icing and moderate turbulence to Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center. They were flying at 35,000 feet with altitude deviations of about 700 feet. The outside temperature was minus 47 degrees Celsius.
Minutes later, the crew requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet to avoid precipitation. Air traffic control approved the request. Less than 30 seconds after that approval, the plane reported a descent and issued a mayday call. At 12:48 p.m., the crew transmitted, "We are in an overspeed condition, descending." Subsequent audio from the cockpit, reviewed by FOX 13, captured a pilot stating, "We’re gonna crash into the ground." The pilot also reported descent rates reaching 22,000 feet per minute and a 60-degree bank angle.
Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was the co-pilot. Her mother and stepfather told the New York Post that she began flight lessons in 2020 and earned her private pilot’s license at 17 while attending West Boca Raton High School. She had graduated from American Flyers flight school and was pursuing a commercial airline career. Authorities have not yet released the names of the other eight victims. Medical examiners are still assessing the remains, and no timeline for full identification has been provided.
The crash site is near homes and businesses in Palm Beach County, which is under a state of emergency. Hundreds of people were evacuated, with residents staying with relatives or in shelters. Palm Tran vouchers and temporary housing programs are being distributed to help affected individuals return to work. One person in a nearby vehicle sustained a leg injury. Investigators are assessing roadway damage and considering permanent detours around the site.
The NTSB is examining weather data, the aircraft’s maintenance history, and the possibility of recovering a cockpit voice recorder. Chapman noted that the agency has not identified a history of crashes involving this specific jet model but will look for trends. Dashcam video shows the plane descending nose-first before impacting the ground and erupting into flames. Investigators face challenges recovering the main wreckage from the roadway, and weather conditions are delaying scene work.
The agency has asked witnesses to email witness@ntsb.gov and has instructed residents not to move any debris found near the crash site. The NTSB did not provide a timeline for determining the probable cause, stating it will not speculate until the investigation is further along.
