Florida Learjet Crash Kills Nine as NTSB Examines Weather and Possible Midair Breakup

Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1.

Updated November 10, 2026: The NTSB announced on November 9 that investigators recovered the Learjet 60’s cockpit voice recorder at the site of initial impact. The recorder is being evaluated at the agency’s Vehicle Recorders Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and excavation work at the impact site is complete.

The update does not confirm that usable audio has been recovered, and the investigation has not established a probable cause. Previously reported exchanges between the crew and controllers, including weather warnings, come from air traffic control recordings, not audio recovered from this cockpit voice recorder.

Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1. Federal investigators are examining the aircraft's final minutes, including crew reports of icing and turbulence and indications that parts of the jet may have separated before impact. No probable cause has been announced.

What is confirmed

The FAA says the aircraft crashed in a residential area near Cresthaven at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time. It had departed Austin–Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Nine people were aboard. FAA accident statement

The National Transportation Safety Board identifies the operator as Aurora Aviation, doing business as Upper Jet. Its investigation, numbered ERA27MA026, remains ongoing, with the FAA supporting the inquiry. The NTSB cautions that its initial information is preliminary and subject to change. NTSB investigation page

The crew's reports before the crash

At a November 2 briefing, NTSB board member Tom Chapman described the crew reporting light clear icing and moderate turbulence while flying at 35,000 feet. After reporting precipitation, the crew requested and received clearance to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds later, a transmission reported a descent, followed by a mayday call. The crew subsequently reported an overspeed condition. WFLX's account of the NTSB briefingWeather remains a focus of the investigation. At the November 2 briefing, investigators had not confirmed whether the aircraft entered an active thunderstorm and were examining indications of a possible breakup before impact. WFLX

The crash also affected people on the ground. Authorities reported one ground injury, while hundreds of nearby residents remained displaced during the investigation. Associated Press

How to read the pilot commentary

The New York Post video linked below features interviews with two veteran pilots about the crash. Its title, “'They Shouldn't Have Been Flying': Pilots Break Down Deadly Florida Plane Crash,” presents a critical assessment, not an NTSB finding. Discussion of weather decisions or possible aerodynamic forces should be understood as outside analysis while investigators assemble the evidence. New York Post video

The confirmed loss of nine lives warrants careful reporting. Reports of icing, a rapid descent and possible structural separation are important evidence, but they do not yet establish why the aircraft crashed or who, if anyone, was at fault.

Related video

Viewer discretion advised: coverage of this fatal crash may contain distressing footage or audio.

New York Post: outside pilot commentary about the November 1 Florida crash. These assessments are not official NTSB findings. Viewer discretion advised.

Official NTSB media briefing, November 2, 2026. Preliminary investigation information may change; no probable cause has been announced.


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