Learjet 60 Crash in the U.S.: Elevator May Have Detached in Flight
New footage of the Learjet 60 crash that occurred in Florida on November 1 has raised the possibility that the aircraft may have lost one of its tail control surfaces before impact.
Analysis of footage showing the final moments of the aircraft, registered N722BD, has led to speculation that the elevator on the horizontal stabiliser may have been missing. Observers compared the position of the aircraft’s tail with stationary structures in the background, suggesting that the elevator might no longer have been attached. However, this claim has not been confirmed by technical evidence.
Meanwhile, assessments have also suggested that impact marks on the asphalt at the crash site resemble the wing geometry of the Learjet 60. The aircraft may have struck the ground at high speed, although no official statement has been issued regarding its impact speed.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that a team of investigators had been assigned to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to arrive at the scene on November 2, with a media briefing planned in West Palm Beach.
Whether any of the aircraft’s control surfaces experienced structural separation during flight will be determined through the NTSB’s technical investigation.
