Learjet pilot calls out crash warning before Palm Springs impact

A private Learjet 60 crashed into a residential area in Palm Springs, Florida, on Sunday around 12:50 p.m., killing all nine people aboard. The FAA confirmed the aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it went down. Emergency crews from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department and fire rescue arrived quickly to find a large crater on the roadside and debris scattered across the neighborhood.

Recordings archived by LiveATC.Net document the final minutes of the flight. The pilots reported moderate turbulence, icing, and precipitation to air traffic control. They noted the outside air temperature was minus 47 degrees Celsius while managing ice accumulation. As conditions worsened, the pilot requested to climb but began descending rapidly instead.

The audio captures the pilot declaring an emergency, citing a descent rate of 10,000 feet per minute that quickly increased to 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot stated the aircraft was in an oversea condition, a term indicating severe loss of control. The final transmission from the cockpit included the words, 'We're gonna crash into the ground.' The pilot later reported descending at 22,000 feet while banking 60 degrees before a scream became audible.

Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the public during a Sunday press conference, describing the visual impact of the crash. He stated the scene looked like a missile going down and noted the crash left a big crater on the side of the road. The governor emphasized the catastrophic nature of the event without releasing specific details on the causes.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the nine victims. DeSantis said officials do not know if any passengers or crew were Florida residents. Multiple investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the crash.

The FAA provided the flight details and casualty count for the incident. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department and county fire rescue personnel handled the initial scene response. The flight path was from Texas to the Bahamas, with the crash occurring in Palm Beach County.