NTSB: Learjet may have disintegrated in the air before Palm Springs crash

Early evidence from the National Transportation Safety Board indicates a Learjet 60 may have started to break apart while in flight before it struck the ground in Palm Springs, Florida. The agency stated this preliminary finding during a briefing on Monday, noting that the aircraft was at 35,000 feet when the structural failure appears to have begun. All nine people on board, including two crew members and seven passengers, died in the crash that occurred on Sunday afternoon.

The flight departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at approximately 10:37 a.m. Sunday, with North Eleuthera in the Bahamas as its destination. The plane maintained communication with air traffic control facilities along the route. At 12:47 p.m., the crew reported encountering light icing, clear icing, and moderate turbulence while flying at 35,000 feet. The outside air temperature was recorded at minus 47 degrees Celsius, or minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit. The crew reported altitude deviations of about 700 feet and later requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet to escape the precipitation they had picked up.

Air traffic control approved the climb request. Less than 30 seconds later, the plane began a rapid descent. The crew transmitted a mayday call, reporting an overspeed condition. At 12:48 p.m., the pilot stated, "We are in an overspeed condition, descending." Subsequent communications described the aircraft losing altitude quickly. Air traffic control recordings show the pilot reporting a descent rate of 8,000 feet per minute, followed by 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot declared an emergency and later reported an overspeed condition with a descent of 20,000 feet per minute. In the final moments of the audio, the pilot said, "We’re gonna crash into the ground." The last recorded transmission was "Look outside," followed by sounds that investigators are still analyzing.

Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was the co-pilot. Her mother and stepfather identified her to the New York Post. Gadelha began flight lessons in 2020 under her father’s guidance. She earned her private pilot’s license at age 17 while attending West Boca Raton High School, with training funded by the school district’s Aviation Academy. She graduated from American Flyers flight school and was pursuing a career as a commercial airline pilot. Authorities have not yet released the official identities of the other eight victims. Medical examiners are assessing the remains, and officials did not provide a timeline for further identifications.

About 20 NTSB investigators arrived at the scene on Sunday evening. Additional staff joined them on Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting with the probe. NTSB Member Tom Chapman said the agency will not determine the probable cause at the crash site to avoid speculation. Investigators are examining weather conditions at altitude and searching for a cockpit voice recorder. Chapman noted that the agency has not found a history of crashes involving this specific jet model but will review the aircraft’s history for trends.

Dashcam video obtained by Storyful appears to show the plane descending nose-first before impact. The crash created a large crater near a roadway. Debris was scattered across nearby homes and businesses. A person in a vehicle leaving an adjacent impacted area sustained a leg injury. Investigators face challenges recovering the main wreckage from the roadway and are assessing the extent of road damage. The agency is considering permanent fixed routes around the crash site and interviewing witnesses. Anyone with information is encouraged to email witness@ntsb.gov.

Palm Beach County is under a state of emergency. Officials believe hundreds of people were evacuated. Residents from affected mobile homes are staying with relatives or in shelters. Palm Tran vouchers are being distributed, and officials are working on temporary housing and rental car programs. Portable showers are expected at the shelter. Officials are also assisting affected businesses in reopening. The NTSB expects several days of work at the scene, with weather conditions currently delaying progress.

The NTSB did not provide a timeline for completing the investigation. Chapman expressed condolences to the families of those lost, stating, "On behalf of all of us at NTSB, I want to express our profound condolences to the family and friends of those lost in this tragedy. We are truly sorry for your loss."