Nine people were aboard, and the pilot was running out of time. What began as a report of ice and turbulence became a desperate emergency over Florida, with a controller trying to keep contact as the jet plunged. The recorded exchanges reveal a terrifying struggle in the sky, before a neighborhood below confronted the first horrifying signs of disa…

The Learjet 60 was traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in Greenacres, near West Palm Beach, according to the report. All nine people aboard died, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. In air traffic control recordings, the pilot reported icing, requested a climb, then declared an emergency as the aircraft descended rapidly. A controller answered, “I’m here with you, talk to me.” Among the pilot’s final reported words were: “We’re out of time.”

The aircraft struck near South Military Trail and Marilyn Drive, leaving a crater, scattered wreckage and fires. Nearby resident Anthony Blackmon described debris hitting his house and flames covering the road. Around 600 residents were evacuated from a neighboring mobile home community. Governor Ron DeSantis said no ground injuries had been reported. Heavy rain affected the area, but the cause remained undetermined as federal investigators worked to establish what went wrong.