A Cuban entrepreneur, who owns a spa in Greenacres, Florida, shared a harrowing account on Tuesday of how a Learjet 60 crash landed just 30 feet from her business on Military Trail. She revealed that she and her family were supposed to be there that day for renovations, but were kept home due to inclement weather.
Her story was featured on the podcast by Los Pichy Boys, where she detailed her near brush with the tragic accident that claimed the lives of all nine passengers aboard the jet.
"The plane literally crashed just 30 feet to the side and would have hit the spa. I was supposed to be there early because we're doing some renovations. Thank God the weather didn't allow us to leave home, as I was planning to go there with my mom, dad, and child," the Cuban businesswoman recounted.
When she attempted to visit the site that evening, officials blocked her access. "They won't let anyone through. We tried to go last night and couldn't even reach the spa. They're saying it might be 72 hours before anyone can go in," she explained.
She described a grim scene at the location's entrance: between ten and fifteen buses evacuated residents without allowing them to retrieve their vehicles. Those who left recounted the devastation, saying, "There are human remains, lots of them, and many metal parts. It was an explosion, parts flew everywhere, and car windshields are shattered from the debris."
The crash occurred at the entrance of the Green Acres Mobile Home Community situated at 3033 South Military Trail, a park with roughly 77 homes, mostly Hispanic, and around 50 years old. The entire area was turned into a crime scene, prompting authorities to evacuate 400 to 600 residents, who were bussed to the Greenacres Community Center.
Palm Beach District 3 Commissioner Joel Flores confirmed to Telemundo 51 that the community is "primarily Hispanic" and assured that efforts were underway to provide them with temporary housing, food, and rental vehicles. "Many of them work in construction and need their trucks, and that's what we're trying to help with right now," he noted.
Another Cuban narrowly avoided the crash site and shared his experience on the same podcast. He was less than a mile from the crash on Military Trail when he saw something terrifying: "Looking through the rearview mirror, I saw an explosion like a four-story building."
The Learjet 60 had taken off from Texas heading to the Bahamas when the crew reported ice accumulation and turbulence at 35,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds after requesting to ascend, the aircraft began plummeting. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating whether the plane disintegrated mid-flight before crashing, leaving debris scattered over a half-mile radius.
Cuban neighbors in the community found metal fragments from the plane near their homes, cars, and trees. On Tuesday, the nine victims were identified, including two children aged two and four, and a 20-year-old co-pilot.
Commissioner Flores warned that displaced residents might be unable to return home for up to two weeks as the investigation continues on-site.
Key Information About the Palm Beach Jet Crash
What caused the Learjet 60 to crash in Palm Beach?
The Learjet 60 encountered ice accumulation and turbulence at 35,000 feet, leading to a rapid loss of altitude. The NTSB is investigating if the aircraft disintegrated mid-flight before crashing.
How many people were affected by the evacuation?
Authorities evacuated between 400 and 600 residents from the Green Acres Mobile Home Community following the crash.
What support is being provided to the displaced residents?
Efforts are being made to provide temporary housing, food, and rental vehicles, especially for those who rely on trucks for construction work.