Florida Learjet 60 shot down by air defense systems deployed around Trump's Mar-a-Lago? Conspiracy theories surface online after 9 killed in fiery crash

Some users on social media are making the suggestion that a private business jet that crashed in southern Florida on Sunday may have been shot down by air defense systems deployed by the US military around President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. The unfounded claims surfaced as users linked videos of the air defense installations to the Learjet 60 crash that killed all nine people on board the aircraft. The crash occurred less than 10 miles from Mar-a-Lago, where Trump was present over the weekend.

The deadly Florida jet crash

In videos that have surfaced online, the business jet is seen nosediving almost vertically into the ground before exploding into a massive fireball. The plane narrowly missed homes in the area and the impact caused a deep crater in the road, according to photos from the scene shared on social media.


The jet was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom international airport in Texas to the North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, when it fell near the Greenacres mobile home community.

According CBS News, the pilot had declared an emergency, saying the jet was rapidly descending. "We’re descending 8,000 — mayday, mayday — we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute. We are in an overspeed condition, descending 20,000 feet per minute," the pilot said. "We’re going to crash into the ground."

The Learjet 60 plane was registered to a private business based in Wilmington, Delaware. Officials have not yet identified the people who died in the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are investigating the incident.

Air defense systems around Mar-a-Lago

A pair of Avenger Air Defense Systems had been stationed on the west side of the seawall next to Trump's oceanfront property, according to a report by Palm Beach Daily News published last week. The surface-to-air devices were first seen on Oct. 23, before the president's arrival later that day for an overnight stay at the residence, the report said.

Another bank of air defense systems had been positioned on the south side of President Donald J Trump International Airport, as per the report. The installations came following a request from the US Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting Trump.

"The U.S. Secret Service continues to operate in a heightened threat environment, and this agency continuously adapts its protective operations to incorporate cutting-edge tools, technology, and methods," a spokesperson for the service told Palm Beach Daily News.