Nine people have been killed after a Learjet 60 aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, near US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

The fatal incident occurred on Sunday near Cresthaven, less than seven miles from Trump's Florida residence, according to officials.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the aircraft plunging almost vertically before crashing into the ground, triggering a massive explosion and leaving a burning crater near a busy roadside.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft died in the crash, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy.

“Today’s plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida is a horrific tragedy,” Duffy said in a statement.

He disclosed that the Learjet 60 had departed Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas when the incident occurred.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also described the crash as catastrophic, saying the aircraft appeared to have plunged towards the ground like a missile.

“It looked like a missile going down,” DeSantis told reporters near the crash site, adding that there were no reports of injuries among residents or other people on the ground.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores disclosed that the aircraft crashed close to the entrance of a mobile home park, forcing authorities to evacuate approximately 600 residents and relocate them to shelters.

Meanwhile, Trump had reportedly been at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier on Sunday but departed from the nearby President Donald J. Trump International Airport aboard Air Force One at about 11:55 a.m. local time, approximately an hour before the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it would investigate the incident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Preliminary accounts indicated that adverse weather conditions may have contributed to the crash, as storms were reportedly recorded in the area.

An audio recording shared on aviation tracking platform LiveATC.net captured what appeared to be cockpit communications shortly before the aircraft went down.

In the recording, a crew member reportedly informed air traffic controllers that the aircraft was experiencing moderate turbulence and that the crew was managing ice accumulation.

The pilot also reportedly said the aircraft was picking up precipitation and needed to climb.

Moments later, the crew declared an emergency, reporting that the aircraft was descending at approximately 10,000 feet per minute before the descent reportedly accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute.

“We’re going to crash into the ground,” the crew member was heard saying shortly before communication with the aircraft was lost.

Authorities are expected to determine the exact cause of the crash as investigations by the FAA and NTSB get underway.