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‼️DEVELOPING: RADAR SHOWS JET FLEW INTO A STORM CORE AT 35,000 FEET
Analysis of Miami NEXRAD radar shows the Learjet 60 (N722BD) entered a thunderstorm core near Wellington at about 12:48 PM ET, just before it crashed in Palm Beach County.
At 35,000 feet, radar echoes around the jet jumped to 34 dBZ, with a 52 dBZ core below it and storm tops near 47,000 feet. Tracking data shows the jet climbed about 450 feet inside the core, then went into a spiraling dive and crashed 76 seconds later.
Minutes earlier, the crew told Miami Center they were in moderate turbulence and “managing the ice” at −53°F, and asked to climb out of the precipitation. Moments later they declared a Mayday, reported an overspeed, and said they were banking 60 degrees.
All 9 people on board did not make it. The NTSB is investigating, and the cause has not been determined.