The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released updates on its investigation into a plane crash in West Palm Beach, Florida, that killed nine people. Two crew members and seven passengers were flying from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the Bahamas in a Learjet 60 when it crashed.
NTSB member Tom Chapman said the agency is investigating weather as a possible contributing factor. The NTSB said the jet took off from Austin-Bergstrom at about 10:37 a.m. Eastern Time. At about 12:47 p.m. Eastern, the crew reported light clear ice and moderate turbulence near 35,000 feet and asked to climb to 37,000 feet, which air traffic control approved. Chapman said a mayday call followed a descent announcement less than 30 seconds later. He also said investigators have some evidence the aircraft broke up before impact.
Matthew "Whiz" Buckley, a former U.S. Navy TOPGUN Adversary F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot, said Learjet 60s are not built to handle icing. Buckley said video frames appear to show the jet missing its horizontal stabilizer. The NTSB has not confirmed the cause of the crash, and the investigation continues.