
Nine people have died after a small private plane crashed into a residential area in Florida, US, on Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
The accident occurred near the Cresthaven area, about 14 kilometers from the Mar-a-Lago resort, in Palm Beach County, at around 12:50 local time.
Footage from the scene shows a large crater in the middle of a residential street, with flames, concrete debris and scattered parts of the Learjet 60 aircraft visible in the area.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane had departed from Austin, Texas, and was bound for the Bahamas.
Moments before the crash, the pilot had notified the control tower of an emergency situation. According to air traffic control recordings published by US media, he reported that the plane was losing altitude at a very high rate, stating that they were in a critical situation and that they had no time left.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the event as a serious accident, comparing the footage of the crash to a rocket plummeting to the ground, followed by a powerful explosion and scattering debris across the area.
The identities of those on board have not yet been released. According to local authorities, there are no reports of casualties or injuries among residents on the ground.
After the accident, authorities declared a state of emergency due to the large number of victims and began evacuating about 600 residents from a community near the scene.
The collapse also caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including water lines. Authorities say the road where the accident occurred could remain blocked for at least 30 days.
There were reports of thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area at the time of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration has sent a team to the scene to assist in the investigation, which will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Investigators are expected to determine the cause of the crash.