"Damn it, we don't have any more time." Those were the last words heard from the cockpit of the private jet, which crashed on Sunday (Nov. 1) in a residential area of Florida, killing all nine people on board.
The recorded conversations between the woman in the cockpit and air traffic control capture the dramatic moments leading up to the tragedy, as the aircraft lost altitude uncontrollably, with the crew realizing that a crash was now inevitable.
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It all began when the Learjet 60, operating a private flight from Texas to the Bahamas, was flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet, approximately 10,670 meters. The crew informed air traffic controllers of turbulence, precipitation, and icing, requesting to climb another 2,000 feet.
Initially, the female crew member described the conditions as manageable, referring to “moderate turbulence” and “light icing.”
Within moments, however, the situation changed dramatically.
“We’re losing altitude at a rate of 8,000 feet per minute. Mayday, mayday, we’re losing 10,000 feet per minute,” she can be heard shouting.
The shocking audio clip:
— Aviation Reporter (@TripppleSeven7) November 1, 2026
AUDIO: N722BD with Miami Center in the final minutes before the Learjet 60 went down in Greenacres, FL. It starts like routine radio traffic: ATC passes along rides ahead and the temperature, and gives the crew altitude at their discretion. The crew reports descending and says they’re direct Freeport. Then the weather comes up. The crew says they’re managing turbulence and picking up precipitation. Soon after, the transmissions change: they declare an emergency and say “we are banking.” Near the end, you hear “descending ten thousand” and ATC repeating the callsign, “November seven two two bravo delta.” Flightradar24 data shows the jet falling at more than 32,000 ft/min from 8,750 ft. Nine people were aboard.
The descent becomes increasingly steep, with the jet reaching speeds faster than it could safely withstand.
“We’ve exceeded the speed limits; we’re descending at 20,000 feet per minute,” the woman continues, her voice reflecting the anguish of those final moments.
What follows is the phrase that confirms the crew has now realized the gravity of the situation.
“We’re going to crash into the ground,” she can be heard saying, before letting out a scream.
On the other end of the line, the air traffic controller tries to maintain contact with her. “I’m here with you, talk to me,” he tells her.
The final response from the cockpit is even more shocking. “We’re descending at 22,000 feet, we’re at a 60-degree angle… Look outside.”
And immediately afterward, she hears the phrase that would be his last: “Shit, we don’t have any more time.”
About 35 seconds after the first distress signal, communication was lost and the aircraft crashed into the ground.
Video footage of the crash shows the Learjet plummeting nearly vertically and crashing at tremendous speed near a main road in the city of Greenacres, just a few meters from passing cars.
The impact created a massive fireball, while a large crater formed at the site and debris was scattered over a wide area.
“It looked like a rocket was falling,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, describing the scene of the disaster.
U.S. authorities are investigating the causes of the tragedy, examining, among other things, weather conditions and the crew’s reports of ice buildup, though the cause of the uncontrolled descent has not yet been determined.
Source: Proto Thema
