ATC audio of Learjet 60 N722BD with Miami Center: ice and turbulence at FL350, a climb to FL370, the mayday and no answer.
What the video covers
Written in our own words. It only describes what the video shows and says.This VASAviation video brings together the air traffic control audio of Learjet 60 N722BD on 1 November 2026 with a radar display built from ADS-B data and NOAA weather radar. The jet was flying from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas and crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida. All nine people on board were killed. The audio comes from LiveATC.net. According to the video description, VASAviation removed the audio from the moments before the impact.
Weather deviations on the way to Freeport
The first part of the recording covers the flight across Florida. N722BD is cleared direct to Freeport, the controller describes an area of weather ahead and deviations left and right of course are approved. Other traffic on the frequency asks for deviations around the same weather. N722BD is then handed over to Miami Center on 125.07.
Ice and turbulence at flight level 350
On the Miami Center frequency, N722BD reports at flight level 350, turning direct Freeport, with light clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence. In the next call the turbulence is described as plus or minus 600 to 700 feet. Asked for the outside air temperature, N722BD gives minus 47 degrees Celsius and says the ice is being managed. The crew asks to be told about any better rides. The controller replies that the rides improve further ahead in his airspace. N722BD then reports picking up precipitation and asks to climb to flight level 370. The controller clears the climb, with no further right turn than the present heading because of other traffic.
Mayday and no answer
Shortly after the climb clearance, N722BD reports descending and declares a mayday, with a descent rate of 10,000 feet per minute. The controller leaves the altitude at the crew's discretion and asks what they need. He then calls N722BD several times without an answer and asks Southwest 918 whether it heard anything, which it did not. At its briefing on 2 November the NTSB said there are signs the jet began to break up before impact. The cause has not been determined.
