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Investigators find wings, engine of downed Learjet plane
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered key parts of the Learjet that crashed in South Florida on November 1, killing all nine onboard, including wings, engines, and flight control surfaces, which are being analyzed to determine the cause.
- The business jet, traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, crashed at over 300 mph near a Palm Beach County mobile home community amid heavy rain and thunderstorms, resulting in a fiery explosion and widespread debris.
- Audio recordings reveal the flight crew described losing control as the plane rapidly descended, and investigators noted that the left elevator recovery suggests the aircraft began breaking apart before impact.
- The crash forced the evacuation of about 600 nearby residents, and the NTSB urges the public to report any debris found without moving or disturbing it, emphasizing the importance of wreckage recovery for the investigation.
- The NTSB cautions that the investigation will be complex and lengthy due to the extensive destruction of the aircraft.
