Nine people aboard a private jet were killed when it crashed and exploded in a fireball near Palm Beach Sunday afternoon.
The plane, a Learjet, had departed from Austin and was on its way to the Bahamas, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X.
Duffy said the plane crashed in “a neighborhood near Cresthaven, FL,” which is about 10 miles from Palm Beach.
“Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost,” he said.
The identities of those on board were not immediately available. Authorities also did not say what caused the crash. There were widespread thunderstorms in South Florida on Sunday afternoon. The region is under a flood watch due to “excessive rainfall,” the National Weather Service said.
The crash occurred less than 10 miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort. The President left West Palm Beach around noon on Air Force One to attend a rally in Iowa, according to White House pool reports.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
