West Palm Beach: A business jet carrying nine people has crashed in Florida, erupting in a massive fireball.

The Learjet 60 was carrying nine people when it crashed in a residential area in Florida’s Palm Beach County, federal officials said.

The Bahamas-bound jet departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, described the crash as “definitely a tragedy” and gave the aircraft’s tail number as N722BD. He could not say who was on board.

Video of the crash showed the aircraft nose-diving from the sky and then erupting into a giant ball of flames near a major roadway, only metres from passing vehicles. The crash left a giant crater in the pavement with flames leaping up from it near a utility pole.

It was unclear if anyone on the ground was hurt, and there are no details on whether anyone on board the plane survived.

The crash occurred near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed roads in both directions and urged motorists to avoid the area. Firefighters and other emergency personnel rushed to the scene.

Footage showed chunks of pavement engulfed in fire as people milled about, expressing shock that the plane had come down so close to houses. Black smoke billowed out of the hole, wafting past palm trees swaying on the stormy day.

A woman working nearby said electricity in the area had been out for approximately two hours after the crash.