Families of Florida Learjet crash victims pay tribute as investigators say plane may have broken up in the air

Investigators into the Learjet crash that killed nine people on Sunday have stated the aircraft may have started to break up before it hit the ground.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have deployed around 20 investigators to look into the causes of the deadly Florida crash in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration.

NSTB member Tom Chapman and Investigator-in-Charge Timothy Monville held a press conference on Monday on the progress of the investigation and plans in the days to come.

Chapman said, “On behalf of all of us at NTSB, I want to express our profound condolences to the family and friends of those lost in this tragedy.”

He added, “We are truly sorry for your loss."

The NTSB officials stated the Learjet 60 left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday at 10.37am, heading to North Eleuthera, in the Bahamas.

Investigators are still looking into the causes of the crash (Supplied)

There was a pilot, co-pilot and seven passengers, who all died in the crash and whose identities were separately released by their families.

They were businessman Adam Robinson, 45, his ceramicist wife, Helen Sharp, 40, their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, alongside their nanny Anita Maria Cetina and another couple named Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

The pilot was named as Jeff Gregory, 55, and the co-pilot as Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20.

The NTSB said at 12.47pm the jet’s crew reported ice and turbulence to Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center and requested to climb to 37,000 feet, which was approved.

In less than 30 seconds after this call, the crew announced a rapid descent and made a mayday call.

Everyone on board was killed, say officials (Supplied)

At 12.48pm the crew said, "We're descending 8,000 — mayday, mayday — we're descending 10,000 feet per minute."

"We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute," the crew radioed. Moments later, the crew said: "We're going to crash into the ground."

Investigators said they could not yet determine the probable cause of the crash however they said there was evidence the plane had begun to break up before it hit the ground.

They are currently working to sift through the wreckage and determine if there was a cockpit voice recorder which can be recovered.

There are currently no reports of anyone on the ground having been killed as a result of the crash, stated investigators, although CBS reported one person may have suffered a leg injury.

The plane was a Learjet 60 (Getty)

Adam founded the tech company Retention, and his wife and mother of his two children, Helen ran a communications firm, Influential PR, and owned Helen Sharp Ceramics.

A joint statement released by the victims’ families said: “Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever,' the statement said.

“Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.'

The statement continued: “Charmi and Rachael were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation. From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building. They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly.

“Anita Maria cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.”