Investigators say they found tail pieces of Learjet that crashed in Florida, killing nine
National Transportation Safety Board says discovery of parts confirms plane was breaking apart before it crashed
TL;DR
- Tail sections of a crashed Learjet were discovered over a mile from the main impact site.
- The discovery of the three-piece tail section suggests the plane disintegrated before crashing.
- The aircraft was flying from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it encountered a thunderstorm.
- Radio transmissions indicated icing, severe turbulence, and an extreme rate of descent.
- Nine people, including a family of four, friends, a nanny, and the pilot, died in the crash.
- The pilot was identified as Jeff Gregory, employed by East Coast Jets.
- The NTSB is collecting debris to reconstruct the aircraft and determine the cause.
- Weather is a primary focus of the ongoing investigation, with a preliminary report expected in about a month.