Pilot in Florida plane crash said “we’re managing the ice” before declaring “Mayday”

Updated on: November 2, 2026 / 11:53 AM EST / CBS News

Audio recordings reveal that the pilot of a plane that crashed in Florida on Sunday said "we're managing the ice" shortly before declaring "Mayday."

The jet crashed into a neighborhood along a busy road, killing all nine people on board the aircraft as it burst into a massive fireball and left a huge crater in Palm Beach County.

The Learjet 60 left from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas when the pilot began to report weather and turbulence issues, according to the FAA.

"We're managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence," the pilot of the business jet could be heard saying in an air traffic control audio recording.

The pilot made multiple distress calls amid the severe weather, which officials believe may have been a factor in the crash.

"722 Bravo Delta, we're descending 8,000, Mayday, Mayday, we're descending 10,000 feet per minute," the pilot said.

The messages grew increasingly alarming in the final moments: "Declare an emergency 722 Bravo Delta, we are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute."

The last data broadcast from the aircraft showed it was flying at…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/