West Palm Beach, Fla. — Jet Crash Near Mar-a-Lago Kills Nine

A Learjet 60 crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, according to the BBC. The crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. EST (17:50 GMT) near the Cresthaven neighborhood, roughly nine miles from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, the BBC reported.

What happened near Mar-a-Lago on Sunday?

The aircraft came down on Military Trail, a six-lane road lined with businesses and restaurants, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office told the BBC. Images from the scene show a crater-sized hole in the roadway surrounded by fire and scattered concrete and aircraft debris. Flight-tracking analysis cited by U.S. media indicates the jet was descending at a rate of hundreds of feet per second before impact.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, describing footage that appears to show the final moments of the flight, told reporters: "It's like a missile coming down, and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere."

Where was the Learjet 60 flying from and to?

The Federal Aviation Administration said the jet had departed from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas when it went down, the BBC reported. Thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time of the crash, and rain was falling heavily during the news conference that followed, according to the BBC's account.

How many residents were evacuated, and for how long will the road stay closed?

Local officials said roughly 600 residents were evacuated from a nearby trailer-park community after the crash, the BBC reported. The impact damaged local infrastructure, including water lines, and officials estimated Military Trail would remain closed for at least 30 days.

Who is investigating the crash?

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a "mass casualty incident," according to the BBC. Duffy said the FAA is dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. "Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost," Duffy said, calling the crash a "horrific tragedy."

The identities of the nine people aboard had not been confirmed as of the BBC's report.

Were there any casualties on the ground?

DeSantis said that, as of the news conference, "we don't have any reports of anyone who was on the ground … who was killed or injured." The sheriff's office and fire rescue had not issued updated figures beyond the nine fatalities among those on the aircraft, per the BBC's reporting.

What is the connection to Trump's visit to Mar-a-Lago?

Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday morning and departed from a nearby airport aboard Air Force One about an hour before the crash, the BBC reported. No connection between the president's departure and the crash has been reported by officials or investigators.