A Learjet 60 private jet crashed in Palm Springs on Sunday, killing at least nine people. Videos from the accident capture how the plane crashes, nose-diving into a neighborhood. Air traffic control recordings, including the pilot’s last words, have now been disclosed.
The terrible plane crash occurred around 12.50. p.m. on Sunday in Palm Springs, Florida, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plane, a Learjet 60 private plane, departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
However, over Palm Springs, something went terribly wrong. Video captured the harrowing scenes when the plane nose-dived into a neighborhood before bursting into flames.
Thick black smoke filled the sky as the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department and fire rescue personnel rushed to the scene. The impact left a huge crater on the road, as debris was scattered across the area.
BocaNewsNow reported that the plane took a sharp right turn before nosediving from 8,000 feet into the ground. Per ABC News, the FAA stated the jet went from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in just a little over a minute, or roughly 350 feet per second, before it crashed into the ground.
Exactly what happened is not yet known. Mike ISlack, an aviation attorney, licensed pilot, and former NASA aerospace engineer, analyzed the available information about the flight, including the audio between air traffic control and the pilot, and told CBS Austin that the weather may have played a big part.
“It is clear that the pilot was very concerned about their circumstance, was trying to get permission to climb the aircraft, was encountering weather that exceeded what she felt like the airplane was capable of sustaining,” Slack said.
Pilot’s last words before fatal plane crash in Florida
“So I would say that the probabilities favor a weather-induced event. We will learn later how the aircraft ended up where it ended up to intersect with the weather,” Slack added.
At a news conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the accident a “big-time tragedy that happened.”
“I’m thankful for the very quick response here to stabilize things,” he added.
Now, the devastating audio recording between the air traffic controller and the pilot has been disclosed. LiveATC.Net archived the recording, which captured parts of the final conversation between the controller on the ground and the pilot.
Per Fox, the pilot was heard talking about icing, precipitation, and moderate turbulence before the plane suddenly lost altitude and began falling rapidly.
“Minus 47 degrees Celsius. We’re managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence,” the pilot said. Now we’re picking up precipitation. We need to climb.”
“Descending 20,000 feet per minute”
Air traffic control confirmed the plane would “climb and maintain,” but shortly after, the pilot said they were descending.
“We’re descending 8,000. Mayday, mayday. We’re descending 10,000 feet per minute. Declaring emergency 722 Bravo Delta. We are in an oversea condition, descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot said.
“We’re gonna crash into the ground.”
The ATC responded, “November two Bravo Delta. I’m here with you. Talk to me.”
The pilot continued, “We are descending 22,000 feet, and we are banking 60 degrees.”
What followed was the sound of the pilot screaming, before everything turned quiet.
Our thoyghts and prayers go out to the family’s of those affected in this tragedy. Rest in peace.
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