Portion of Learjet’s Engine Recovered, NTSB Says

Agency also reports pieces of debris were found away from the crash site and on top of nearby roofs and buildings.

Jack Daleo

Friday, November 06, 2026 at 02:17 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The National Transportation Safety Board said it recovered a portion of one of the crashed Learjet’s engines. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB has recovered significant wreckage from the Learjet 60 crash, including an engine portion and the majority of the left elevator, indicating that at least some parts broke off before impact.
Investigators are focusing on severe icing conditions reported by the pilots and adverse weather (thunderstorms, downdrafts) as potential factors in the aircraft's high rate of descent and possible in-flight breakup.
The public is asked to report any found debris to aid the investigation, while the copilot's father has spoken out and retained an attorney, although no lawsuit has been filed yet.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The National Transportation Safety Board said investigators have recovered a portion of one engine from the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday, killing nine people.

In an investigative update Thursday, the NTSB said it found the part during its excavation of the jet’s crash site near Greenacres, Florida, which began Wednesday. The aircraft’s impact created a large crater that officials said Tuesday had begun to fill with water. The agency said it found other debris away from the impact site and on the roofs of nearby homes and buildings.