Nine killed in Florida business jet crash near Palm Beach

A business jet crashed in a neighbourhood in Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board, according to the US transport secretary. The aircraft came down near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County, about nine miles from Mar-a-Lago, the president's resort. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after the crash, which happened at around 12:50 local time.

The aircraft was identified as a Learjet 60 that had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was sending a team to the scene to assist with the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the inquiry into what caused the crash.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened in the area of Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes while crews worked at the scene. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a mass-casualty incident, reflecting the scale of the emergency response.

The crash is significant because it involved a civilian business jet in a populated area, raising immediate questions about flight safety, emergency response and the circumstances of the aircraft's final approach. The route from Texas to the Bahamas is a regular international leisure and business corridor, but the available information does not yet explain why the aircraft came down in a residential neighbourhood. The investigation will focus on the aircraft, its flight path and any factors that may have contributed to the accident.

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Transport Secretary Sean Duffy described the crash as a horrific tragedy and said the federal aviation agency was supporting the investigation. He also asked people to pray for the families and loved ones of those who died. At this stage, the identities of the victims have not been released in the supplied information, and no cause has been confirmed.

The investigation is now expected to examine the wreckage, flight data and witness accounts from the area near Cresthaven. Officials have not yet said whether weather, mechanical failure or another factor played a role. More details are likely to emerge as federal investigators and local emergency crews continue their work at the scene.

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