Investigators probe if jet broke apart before deadly Florida crash

United States aviation authorities are investigating whether parts of a Learjet 60 broke off before it nose-dived and exploded onto a Florida street, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board. The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the tragedy occurred just miles from Mar-a-Lago.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it will examine to what extent ice, turbulence, and potential structural failure contributed to the disaster. Flight records show the crew had earlier radioed air traffic control to report encountering moderate turbulence and icing, requesting a higher altitude.

Less than 30 seconds after the weather update, the plane entered a rapid descent and issued a mayday call. Audio recordings captured a crew member shouting about an extreme overspeed condition and warning that they were going to impact the ground. Debris scattered across local businesses and sports fields has led officials to investigate whether the fuselage fractured prior to the final impact.

Among the nine victims were tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife, their two children, and three other passengers. The flight crew, including the pilot and a 20-year-old copilot, also perished in the crash. One person on the ground sustained a leg injury from the falling debris.

The NTSB cautioned that determining the exact cause of the crash will require an extensive and challenging investigation, particularly given the task of recovering wreckage from the crater on the roadway. Read more details of the investigation on Nile Post.