A business jet crashed into a neighbourhood in Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board, the US transport secretary has said.

The crash happened near Cresthaven, about nine miles (14 km) from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach County, at around 12:50 EST (17:50 GMT).

Images show a large crater in the middle of a multi-lane road. Fire and debris from the Learjet 60 aircraft were scattered across it. No one on the ground was hurt.

Flight details

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas.

Flight analysis indicates that the jet was plummeting hundreds of feet per second before it crashed.

Air traffic control audio

In air traffic control audio recorded moments before the crash, someone in the cockpit can be heard reporting “moderate turbulence” and saying the crew was “managing the ice”.

The same voice then says the plane was “picking up precipitation” and “we need to climb”. Moments later, the voice says the plane is descending at a rate of 10,000ft (3,048m) per minute.

The crew member declared an emergency, saying “we are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000ft per minute” before adding, “we are going to crash into the ground”.

About 35 seconds after the initial mayday call, the last remark from the cockpit was “we’re out of time”.

Footage and official response

Unverified footage posted on social media appears to show a dash-camera recording of the crash. It shows vehicles on a residential street when an aircraft suddenly nosedives into the ground and explodes into a large fireball.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters at a news conference after the crash: “When you see that video, it’s a jarring thing. It’s like a missile coming down, and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere.”

It is not yet clear who was aboard the jet. DeSantis said that, as of now, there were no reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the crash as a “horrific tragedy”. He said the FAA was sending a team to the scene to help the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with its investigation.

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

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has declared a “mass casualty incident”. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened on Military Trail, a six-lane road lined with businesses and restaurants.

Evacuations and road closure

At the news conference, DeSantis and local officials said 600 residents were being evacuated from a nearby trailer park community.

The impact caused considerable damage to local infrastructure, including water lines, officials said. The road will be closed for at least 30 days.

Weather and Trump’s movements

Thunderstorms had been reported in the area at the time of the crash, and it was raining heavily during the news conference.

Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday morning. He left from a nearby airport on Air Force One about an hour before the crash.