The US accident investigation team revealed that a Learjet 60 may have broken apart before crashing onto a road and exploding, killing all nine people on board after debris was scattered across a sports field, homes, and shops in the area.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it is examining the possibility that the private Learjet 60, which crashed in Florida on Sunday, 1 Nov 2020 GMT+7, broke into pieces mid-air before plummeting onto a road and exploding, causing the deaths of all nine passengers and crew.
The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas but crashed on Military Trail road in Palm Beach County, about 14 kilometers from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
NTSB officials stated that in addition to investigating whether the plane broke apart mid-air, they are also examining if ice accumulation on the aircraft and turbulent weather contributed to the crash. They confirmed that after takeoff from Texas, the crew reported to air traffic control that they were encountering ice buildup on the plane and moderate turbulent conditions.
The crew then reported facing rain and drizzle and requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet (approximately 11,300 meters) if possible. Less than 30 seconds later, the plane began rapidly losing altitude, and the crew issued a Mayday emergency signal.
Tom Chapman, an NTSB official, revealed that afterwards, communications from the cockpit became unintelligible before the aircraft crashed. He confirmed that there were no survivors aboard the plane.
Recordings of communications with air traffic control earlier captured the crew reporting a rapid descent rate of about 20,000 feet (roughly 6,100 meters) per minute and warning that the plane was about to impact the ground. Approximately 35 seconds after the initial emergency call, the last words heard were believed to be 'We have no time left.'
Officials noted that thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time, and flight data analysis showed the aircraft was descending at several hundred feet per second before crashing.
Another key piece of evidence is the scattered plane debris found across a sports field, shops, and nearby homes, which may indicate the aircraft broke apart before hitting the ground. However, investigators have not yet determined a definitive cause and described the recovery of the wreckage from the large crater on the road as a very challenging task.
The investigation is also ongoing to determine whether the plane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder and if data can be recovered. The team is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), experts from the Learjet manufacturer, meteorologists, and air traffic control specialists.
The nine victims included seven passengers, a pilot, and a co-pilot. Among the passengers was Adam Robinson, a technology entrepreneur, his wife, and their two children. The co-pilot, Nathalia Philgrayrus, had been licensed since age 17.
A man on the ground sustained a leg injury from the crash on the road. The investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident is expected to take considerable time.
. Source:BBC
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