Nine people were killed Sunday when a business jet plunged into a neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, crashing onto a busy six-lane road and erupting into a massive fireball.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the Learjet 60 died in the crash, which occurred around 12:50 p.m. near Cresthaven, approximately nine miles (14 kilometres) from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Despite the aircraft crashing in an area surrounded by homes and businesses, authorities reported no deaths or injuries on the ground.

The jet had departed Austin, Texas, and was travelling to the Bahamas when it went down on Military Trail, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Images from the scene showed a large crater in the roadway, burning wreckage and debris scattered across several lanes.

Flight information and air traffic control recordings suggest the aircraft experienced serious difficulties shortly before the crash.

In audio recorded moments before the disaster, a person in the cockpit reported moderate turbulence and said the crew was dealing with ice accumulation.

The person subsequently reported that the aircraft was encountering precipitation and needed to climb.

Moments later, the situation deteriorated rapidly, with the crew reporting a descent of 10,000 feet per minute before declaring an emergency.

“We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000ft per minute,” the crew member said, before warning, “we are going to crash into the ground”.

Approximately 35 seconds after the initial emergency call, the final words heard from the cockpit were: “We’re out of time.”

Unverified dash-camera footage circulating on social media appeared to capture the aircraft descending almost vertically before striking the roadway and exploding.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the footage as disturbing.

“It’s like a missile coming down, and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere,” DeSantis told reporters.

The impact caused extensive damage to surrounding infrastructure, including water lines, prompting authorities to evacuate approximately 600 residents from a nearby trailer-park community.

Officials said Military Trail could remain closed for at least 30 days while emergency repairs and investigations continue.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a mass casualty incident following the crash.

Duffy described the disaster as a “horrific tragedy” and said the FAA was sending investigators to assist the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation.

“Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost,” he said.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain were reported in the area around the time of the crash, although investigators have not determined whether weather conditions contributed to the accident.

The identities of those aboard the aircraft have not yet been released.

Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago earlier Sunday but departed aboard Air Force One from a nearby airport approximately an hour before the crash.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the accident.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Nine killed as business jet crashes into Florida neighbourhood.