By — Josh Funk, Associated Press Josh Funk, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/parts-of-jets-tail-found-more-than-a-mile-from-plane-crash-site-in-south-florida-official-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Parts of jet's tail found more than a mile from plane crash site in South Florida, official says Nation Nov 3, 2026 4:39 PM EST WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Investigators found part of the tail of the jet that crashed in South Florida more than a mile from the crater caused when the aircraft made impact. READ MORE: Palm Beach plane crash footage isn't AI-generated, despite social media claims National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said during a news conference Tuesday that the discovery of tail parts confirms the plane was breaking apart before it hit the ground. Chapman said the tail's elevator was broken into three parts, and without that intact, pilot would not have been able to pull the Learjet out of its nose dive. "The function of the elevator is to control the pitch up and down," he said. "At those speeds I don't know…
Parts of jet's tail found more than a mile from plane crash site in South Florida, official says
In short
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman confirmed that the Learjet suffered a midair breakup that fractured the elevator into three separate pieces, rendering the plane uncontrollable. Prior to the crash in Greenacres, co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras warned air traffic controllers of ice accumulation and intense turbulence shifting the plane by hundreds of feet. The ensuing crash displaced hundreds of community members and injured a bystander when the aircraft erupted into a fireball upon impact.
Key points
- The aircraft suffered structural failure in flight that left the flight crew entirely una…: The aircraft suffered structural failure in flight that left the flight crew entirely unable to recover from a dive.
- Hazardous flight conditions including icing and violent turbulence preceded the disaster…: Hazardous flight conditions including icing and violent turbulence preceded the disaster seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.
- Debris and the resulting fireball displaced roughly 600 area residents and caused an inju…: Debris and the resulting fireball displaced roughly 600 area residents and caused an injury on the ground.