Learjet 60 crashes in Florida's Palm Beach County, all nine on board killed after pilot's Mayday call

A commercial jet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. The authorities have confirmed that all nine people on board were killed. The crash happened just nine miles, about 14 km, from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

A few hours before the crash, the US Secret Service had put air security measures in place around Mar-a-Lago. AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defence systems (SHORADS) have been installed around the President's Palm Beach residence to protect him from drones and other possible aerial threats. The crash, coming soon after, has caused a stir across the United States.

According to the information available, a Learjet 60 carrying nine people suddenly came down in the Crestheaven area of Palm Beach County. It exploded on impact and caught fire.

President Trump was himself at Mar-a-Lago that day. An hour before the crash, at 11:55 am, he had left aboard Air Force One from the nearby President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The authorities have made clear that there is no link between the crash and the stepped-up security arrangements.

Flight-tracking data and conversations with air traffic control show that the aircraft had faced very bad weather before the crash. Turbulence and icing caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. The pilot told the control room that the jolts were making the aircraft move up and down by about 700 feet. For safety, the pilot asked for permission to climb a further 2,000 feet.

Within moments, however, the situation slipped out of control and the aircraft began to fall at great speed. The pilot called "Mayday, Mayday" to ask for emergency help. In the last exchange with air traffic control, the pilot said the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet a minute and was about to hit the ground. The aircraft crashed shortly afterwards.

The crash has again raised questions about air travel safety and VIP security. The Avenger missile system is a mobile, short-range air defence system. It can rotate 360 degrees and respond precisely to any aerial threat using Stinger missiles. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating the crash in depth.