The crashed killed all nine people on board and was just metres from a busy road. ( Supplied: Eduin Cruz/via Reuters )
Parts of a private jet appear to have broken off before the aircraft crashed in Florida, killing nine people, according to a federal investigator.
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman told a news conference evidence found at the crash site indicated the aircraft was breaking up before it made impact on Sunday, local time, and that parts of the plane may be found some distance away.
The jet crashed in a residential area in Palm Beach County.
The aircraft had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Videos on social media showed the jet slamming into the ground next to a road and exploding.
“We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact,” Mr Chapman said.
“We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
