Nine people were killed Sunday afternoon when a Bahamas-bound Learjet 60 crashed and exploded in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, U.S. officials confirmed.
The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it plunged to the ground near Lake Worth Beach.
All nine people aboard died, although authorities have not released their identities or specified how many were passengers and crew.
Air traffic control recordings published by LiveATC captured the aircraft's final moments, during which the cockpit reported ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.
The crew initially indicated that icing conditions were manageable before requesting a higher altitude as weather conditions deteriorated.
Shortly afterward, the aircraft declared an emergency and reported rapidly accelerating descent rates, initially reaching 10,000 feet per minute and subsequently exceeding 20,000 feet per minute.
Flight tracking data indicated an exceptionally steep descent before the aircraft disappeared from tracking systems.
Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall were reported in the area, although investigators have not established whether weather conditions contributed to the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the circumstances, with NTSB personnel expected at the scene Sunday and Monday.
The aircraft struck near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, creating a large crater and scattering debris across the surrounding area.
Authorities closed the roadway in both directions while emergency personnel secured the crash site.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said approximately 600 residents were being evacuated and relocated to two county shelters because the wreckage obstructed access to a nearby mobile home park.
No fatalities were reported on the ground.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the impact as a devastating explosion, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities.
FAA records identify the aircraft's owner as a Delaware-based corporation.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier said it would cooperate fully with investigators.
The crash is the second deadliest aviation accident in the United States this year, following a June skydiving aircraft crash in Missouri that killed 12 people.
Investigators have not determined the cause of Sunday's disaster.