In brief
The National Transportation Safety Board said it found shredded plastic and metal linked to a Learjet 45 approximately six miles from the impact crater near Kissimmee, Florida. Additional findings, including a major portion of the aircraft's left elevator, were located three miles from the site, suggesting early loss of control.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it had discovered aircraft debris linked to the Learjet 45 that crashed Sunday night near Kissimmee, Florida, about six miles from the fire crater where the wreckage was found, according to the Associated Press.
"We have recovered debris that we believe is from the aircraft involved in the crash," NTSB senior investigator Jay T. Graeber told the AP. He added that the debris, which included shredded plastic and metal, was found roughly 6 miles from the crater – a surprising distance given the flight path and impact conditions. The crash killed six people, including a flight attendant.
The Florida Institute of Technology, which conducted a preliminary analysis of the fragments, confirmed that the materials were consistent with a Learjet 45 airframe, the AP report noted.
The BBC reported that NTSB board member Tom Chapman said the majority of the Learjet’s left elevator was found in three separate pieces.
“The majority of the Learjet’s left elevator was found in three pieces.”
Chapman’s statement, coming from a BBC news briefing, points to a potential early loss of control or structural failure before the aircraft struck the ground.
These discoveries, the AP and BBC sources said, could help investigators determine whether a sudden malfunction or diversion contributed to the tragedy. The NTSB continues to examine how and why debris ended up so far from the wreckage, with a final report expected early next year.