Investigators believe that a private jet which crashed in Florida, killing all nine people on board, may have broken apart while still in the air before hitting the ground. US aviation authorities have said that evidence recovered from the crash site suggests that parts of the aircraft may have separated before impact.
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday when a Learjet 60, travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, plunged towards a busy multi-lane highway in Palm Beach, Florida, before crashing and exploding. All nine people aboard the aircraft lost their lives in the devastating incident.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), investigators are examining several possible factors behind the crash, including severe weather conditions, turbulence and ice accumulation on the aircraft. However, officials have cautioned that it is too early to establish the exact cause of the disaster.
NTSB investigator Tom Chapman said there was evidence indicating that the aircraft may have broken apart before striking the ground. Investigators believe that additional pieces of wreckage could be discovered some distance away from the main crash site.
