Investigators Recover Piece of Learjet Engine as More Wreckage Is Found on Florida Homes After Crash That Killed Nine

Federal investigators have recovered part of an engine from the Learjet 60 that crashed in Florida, killing all nine people aboard, as the search for crucial evidence continues across the devastated crash site.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on November 5 that investigators had recovered a portion of one engine during excavation work near Greenacres, in Palm Beach County.

The discovery came as crews continued searching the enormous impact crater left when the private jet plunged onto Military Trail on November 1.

Investigators also revealed that aircraft debris had been discovered far from the main impact location, including on the roofs of nearby homes and buildings.

Some residents were left dealing with unexpected damage after suspected pieces of the aircraft landed on their properties. In one reported incident, a twisted piece of metal believed to have come from the jet punched through a home’s roof, leaving a hole and contributing to damage inside the property.

The NTSB has not confirmed that every piece of debris discovered by residents came from the aircraft. However, investigators are treating recovered wreckage as potentially important evidence.

The agency has urged anyone who finds suspected debris not to keep it, move it, alter it or throw it away. Even small fragments could help investigators reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments.

The latest discovery follows another significant development earlier in the investigation. Officials confirmed that three pieces of the Learjet’s left elevator, a control surface on the tail that helps regulate the aircraft’s pitch, were recovered between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site.

Their locations indicate that the components separated from the aircraft before impact. However, investigators have not determined whether the damage contributed to the loss of control or occurred as a result of forces acting on the jet during its rapid descent.

The Learjet had departed Austin, Texas, and was heading toward North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in South Florida.

All nine people aboard were killed. The aircraft went down during severe weather, and air traffic control communications indicated that the crew had reported icing and turbulence before the emergency.

Investigators are examining the recovered engine section, the separated tail components and other wreckage as they work to establish what happened.

The NTSB has emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that no cause has been determined.

For investigators, every recovered fragment could provide another clue in understanding how a routine flight ended in one of Florida’s deadliest recent private jet crashes.

Source:  DAILYMAIL