A Learjet 60 went down in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the NTSB says there are early signs the jet may have started breaking apart before impact. Former F-15E combat pilot and Thunderbirds demonstration pilot Max Afterburner breaks down what we know about the crash of N722BD, including the final radio calls, the reported icing and turbulence at 35,000 feet, the overspeed, and the questions investigators still have to answer.
The Learjet 60 was flying from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas on November 1, 2026, with two crew and seven passengers on board. Around 12:47 p.m., the crew told Miami Center they had light clear ice, moderate turbulence, and altitude swings of about 700 feet. They reported precipitation and were cleared to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds later came a descent call and a mayday. The crew reported an overspeed as the descent reached 22,000 feet per minute.