The Learjet crash investigation in Florida has entered a new recovery phase after investigators found part of one engine at the impact site near Greenacres.
The National Transportation Safety Board said excavation work continued this week as crews searched the crater left by the Learjet 60, which crashed on November 1 and killed all nine people aboard.
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Learjet crash wreckage is being moved for examination
The NTSB said recovered wreckage is being transferred to a secure location for further examination.
Investigators have also found debris away from the main impact site, including pieces on the roofs of nearby homes and buildings.
The agency is asking residents not to keep, move, alter or dispose of any suspected aircraft debris because even small fragments could help establish what happened.
Anyone who finds possible wreckage has been asked to photograph it and contact the NTSB to arrange its recovery.
The investigation remains preliminary, and the NTSB has not determined the probable cause of the crash.
What investigators know about the flight
The Learjet 60 was operated by Aurora Aviation under the name Upper Jet and was flying from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The aircraft went down at about 12:50 p.m. local time near Military Trail in the Cresthaven and Greenacres area of Palm Beach County.
The Federal Aviation Administration said nine people were on board, while the NTSB took charge of the investigation.
Before the crash, the crew reported icing and turbulence while the aircraft was flying at roughly 35,000 feet.
Investigators said the aircraft later experienced altitude deviations, an overspeed condition and a rapid descent before radio contact was lost.
The crew had also requested a climb to 37,000 feet after reporting precipitation, according to information released during an NTSB briefing.
Evidence suggests parts separated before impact
Investigators previously recovered most of the Learjet’s left elevator in three pieces between roughly 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site.
The elevator is a control surface on the aircraft’s tail that helps control pitch.
The location of those pieces indicated that at least some aircraft components separated before the jet struck the ground, although investigators have not said whether that separation caused the loss of control or occurred during the descent.
The newly recovered engine section will be examined alongside the other wreckage as investigators reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments.
Nine people died in the Florida crash
The victims included pilots Jeff Gregory and Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, as well as Texas technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their two young children.
Passengers Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr and Anita Maria Cetina were also identified among those killed.
Authorities said one person on the ground suffered a leg injury, but no one else on the ground was reported killed.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has also released 911 calls from the aftermath, while local and federal crews continue working at the scene.
What happens next
The NTSB’s investigation will continue with wreckage recovery, examination of aircraft systems, review of weather and air-traffic-control information, and analysis of any available recorder data.
Investigators are also trying to confirm whether a cockpit voice recorder remained aboard the aircraft.
The agency has cautioned that updates from the crash site will not establish a final cause until the evidence has been fully reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Learjet crash happen?
The Learjet 60 crashed on November 1, 2026, at about 12:50 p.m. local time near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida.
How many people died in the Learjet crash?
All nine people aboard the aircraft died.
What was the Learjet’s route?
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
What evidence has the NTSB recovered?
Investigators have recovered part of an engine and most of the aircraft’s left elevator, which was found in pieces miles from the main impact site.
Has the cause of the crash been determined?
No. The NTSB investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not yet determined the probable cause.
Fact-Checked: Key flight details, the death toll and the latest wreckage-recovery information were checked against the NTSB and FAA investigation updates.
Disclaimer: The NTSB’s findings are preliminary and may change as investigators recover and analyse additional evidence.