On Sunday, Nov. 1, a Learjet 60 business jet crashed in the Cresthaven mobile‑home community near Military Trail in Greenacres, just west of West Palm Beach. The aircraft, registered as N722BD, was en route from Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it descended steeply and impacted the neighborhood at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local outlet uPolitics.
The crash killed all nine occupants on board, as reported by multiple sources, including MEAWW and beinsure.com. Emergency crews described the incident as a “mass casualty incident” and responded to a large fireball, thick black smoke, and scattered debris along Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Cresthaven Boulevard.
County officials immediately evacuated the Cresthaven mobile‑home park, displacing roughly 600 residents. Palm Beach County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo said an alternate route for Military Trail is hoped to be in place by Monday, while law enforcement redirected non‑emergency traffic and limited road access to emergency vehicles only, per a county news release cited by WPBF.
Residents were directed to the Greenacres Community Center at 501 Swain Blvd for shelter, with the Red Cross on standby, according to Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel G. Flores. “We are evacuating the adjacent community,” Flores told reporters, adding that shelter space would be provided for the night.
Governor Ron DeSantis visited the crash site and described the scene as resembling “a missile going down,” noting a large crater and extensive debris strewn across the roadway. He emphasized the seriousness of the incident while praising the rapid response of first‑responders.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Military Trail remains closed to all traffic while investigators secure the site. Drivers are advised to detour using 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east‑west travel and Haverhill Road and Kirk Road for north‑south travel, as detailed by WPBF.
State Rep. Debra Tendrich, whose 89th House district includes the area, offered her office’s assistance to affected families. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA will lead the investigation, with the NTSB expected to take charge of the probe, according to beinsure.com.
Witnesses reported a loud impact that sounded like a missile strike and noted that power lines were downed after the crash. While some social‑media posts suggested the jet may have struck a power line, officials have not confirmed whether the lines contributed to the accident.
What’s next: County engineers aim to establish an alternate route for Military Trail by Monday, and the NTSB will release preliminary findings as the investigation proceeds. Residents displaced by the evacuation are expected to receive ongoing support from local shelters and state representatives.
Sources: wpbf.com, news.meaww.com, upolitics.com, beinsure.com
