Nine dead after private jet crashes into Florida neighborhood

A private jet crashed in a residential neighborhood in Palm Springs, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. The accident killed nine people.

The FAA confirmed the aircraft was a Learjet 60. It departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas around midday, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The plane struck the ground near 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 1.

First responders from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department and county fire rescue arrived immediately. Officials described a large crater next to the road where the jet impacted. Debris scattered across the surrounding area. Video footage showed the aircraft nose-diving before catching fire. Black smoke rose from the site.

Local authorities evacuated roughly 600 people from the vicinity. The Red Cross is on the ground providing assistance to those displaced by the crash. Federal officials have not yet released the names of the nine individuals on board.

Investigators are examining reports of icing and severe turbulence experienced before the crash. The cause remains under active investigation. The NTSB is scheduled to hold a media briefing later today.

The flight originated in Austin, a common departure point for private aviation heading to the Caribbean. The crash site in Palm Springs is located in a populated zone. The Learjet 60 is a business jet capable of carrying up to ten passengers. This incident marks a recent addition to the list of general aviation accidents in the region.