9 killed as jet crashes into Greenacres home, leaving fiery crater

A business jet struck a residential neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft, which was en route to the Bahamas, hit the ground and exploded, creating a large crater in the area. Federal investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Air traffic control recordings show the pilot reported light ice accumulation and moderate turbulence while flying at 35,000 feet. The pilot noted that the jet was jolted by turbulence of up to 700 feet. The situation deteriorated quickly as the pilot requested a climb and declared an emergency. The pilot later radioed that the plane was descending at 10,000 feet per minute before reporting an overspeed condition with a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute.

Camila Corteleti identified her 20-year-old daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, as one of the pilots. Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license in 2023 while attending West Boca Raton Community High School. Her license included the rating to fly the Learjet model but did not authorize her to command the flight. Her father, Allan Filgueiras, told The Associated Press he was not prepared to discuss the crash.

Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, described the scene to NBC affiliate WTVJ. He said debris hit his house and that everything, including the road, was on fire. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. He described the event as a cataclysmic crash that resembled a missile impact.

Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation. The jet departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for that airport, described the aircraft as private but did not provide passenger details.

NTSB officials are scheduled to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday afternoon to provide updates on the investigation. Rain was reported in the region on Sunday, the day of the crash. Authorities have not released the names of the other victims.