All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed when the aircraft crashed in a residential neighborhood in Florida on Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

The aircraft crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern Time, Duffy said in a post on X. The plane had departed from Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas.

Calling the incident a “horrific tragedy,” Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was sending a team to the scene to support the investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

It remained unclear whether anyone on the ground was injured.

According to a recording of air traffic control communications captured by LiveATC.net, the pilot reported ice accumulating on the aircraft and moderate turbulence shortly before the crash.

The aircraft subsequently declared an emergency before descending approximately 8.2 kilometres in about one minute, according to the reported flight communications.

Local media reported that scattered thunderstorms were present in the area at the time of the crash. The aircraft had passed through a stronger storm cell several minutes before beginning its descent.

Video footage of the incident showed the aircraft plunging nose-first toward the ground before erupting into a massive fireball near a major roadway. The impact also reportedly created a crater at the crash site.

Investigators are expected to examine weather conditions, the aircraft's flight data, communications between the pilot and air traffic controllers, and possible mechanical factors to determine what caused the crash.

The cause of the accident had not been officially established as of Sunday, and the investigation remained ongoing. (ILKHA)