The business jet, carrying nine people from Texas to the Bahamas, reportedly went into a steep, uncontrolled descent before crashing into a residential area in Palm Beach County. All nine occupants were confirmed dead.

A devastating plane crash in Florida has claimed nine lives after a Learjet 60 plunged from the sky and slammed into a residential road in Palm Beach County, triggering a massive explosion and leaving a crater in the street.

The twin-engine business aircraft, identified by its registration number N722BD, was carrying nine people when it crashed on Sunday afternoon in the Greenacres area, several miles from Mar-a-Lago, the private residence of US President Donald Trump.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later confirmed that everyone aboard the aircraft had died.

In a statement reacting to the tragedy, Duffy described the incident as a horrific disaster and said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was supporting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The aircraft had reportedly departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when disaster struck.

Flight-tracking information indicated that the Learjet entered a sudden and extremely steep descent at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time.

The aircraft reportedly lost tens of thousands of feet in altitude within about a minute, with its descent rate estimated at nearly 20,000 feet per minute.

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Dashcam footage circulating online appeared to capture the jet plunging almost vertically towards the ground moments before impact.

It eventually crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, tearing through the roadway and producing a massive fireball.

The impact was so powerful that it ripped open the pavement, scattered aircraft debris across the area and damaged nearby power lines. Thick clouds of black smoke rose above the neighbourhood as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Residents described hearing a loud whistling sound moments before a deafening explosion rocked the area.

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The aircraft came down close to a mobile-home community and several commercial properties. Although the wreckage landed dangerously close to surrounding structures, preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft narrowly missed several buildings.

The crash also forced authorities to close Military Trail in both directions as firefighters and rescue personnel worked to contain the blaze and secure the area.

Final Moments Captured in Air-Traffic Control Audio

Disturbing air-traffic control recordings reportedly captured the crew's desperate final communications with controllers.

During the exchange, the pilots declared an emergency and reported that the aircraft was experiencing a rapid descent and loss of control.

One transmission reportedly included the words, “We're going to crash into the ground.”

Another chilling statement captured in the recording suggested that the crew knew the situation had become critical, with one voice reportedly saying they were running out of time before communication was lost.

The recordings have added to the shock surrounding the incident as investigators work to establish what went wrong aboard the aircraft.

Investigation Underway as Questions Emerge

Authorities have yet to release the identities of the nine victims or provide a detailed explanation of what caused the aircraft to lose control.

The Learjet was reportedly registered to a Delaware-based limited liability company and had previously been listed for charter services.

The crash site is approximately five to eight miles from Mar-a-Lago and relatively close to Palm Beach International Airport, recently renamed Palm Beach International Airport?

The incident also attracted attention because temporary flight restrictions had reportedly been imposed in the area during President Trump's presence in Palm Beach over the weekend. Trump had departed the area earlier on Sunday.

However, speculation about possible security or external interference has not been supported by any official findings. Authorities have not announced evidence suggesting that the aircraft was brought down by an external force.

The NTSB is expected to lead the investigation, with assistance from the FAA, as investigators examine the wreckage, flight data, maintenance records and communications to determine the cause of the disaster.

For now, the tragedy has left nine families mourning their loved ones and a Florida neighbourhood struggling to come to terms with the terrifying moment a passenger aircraft fell from the sky.