Fact Check: Was the Learjet that crashed in Florida shot down near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort?
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral online post claims that a US military air defense system or an Air Force F-16 may have shot down a Learjet 60 near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The rumor has sparked widespread concern and anxiety, calling for a fact-check.
Claim: Learjet was shot down near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort
A Learjet 60 business jet, registered as N722BD, crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, killing all nine people aboard, according to a report. The aircraft was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it went down near the Greenacres mobile home community.
The crash sparked speculation on social media that the aircraft might have been targeted by US military air defenses protecting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, located roughly 10 kilometers away.
What triggered the shoot-down theory?
The speculation gained traction after reports emerged that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deployed AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defense systems around Mar-a-Lago in late October at the Secret Service’s request.
The Avenger system can launch Stinger missiles designed to engage certain low-flying aerial threats. Trump was also reportedly at the resort on the day of the crash, adding to online suspicions.
NORAD had previously scrambled an F-16 on October 24 after a civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago. The fighter pilot reportedly used a standard interception maneuver to get the civilian pilot’s attention, allowing the aircraft to leave the restricted area safely.
Fact Check: No credible evidence supports the claim
There is no credible evidence in the available information to support the claim that the aircraft was shot down. The cause of the crash remains subject to investigation.
The earlier interception does not establish a connection to the November 1 crash. No evidence presented in the report indicates that an F-16 was scrambled to intercept the Learjet that day.
The aircraft’s distress calls, reported icing and turbulence, extreme descent rate, and evidence of an in-flight breakup are relevant to the investigation. However, none of these details alone conclusively establish the cause.
The NTSB’s investigation remains ongoing, and investigators have not established a final cause. Until official findings or credible evidence demonstrate otherwise, claims that US military air defenses or an F-16 shot down the aircraft should be treated as unverified speculation rather than fact.
