A family of four, including two young children, were among the nine people killed when a Learjet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida on Sunday, according to a relative.

All nine individuals aboard the Bahamas-bound aircraft perished in the catastrophic incident, authorities confirmed. The victims included two crew members and seven passengers.

The family identified as being on board includes Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, and their two young children, 4-year-old Emma and 2-year-old Charlie. Robinson's brother shared the heartbreaking news in an online statement, describing the couple's "love affair that will last forever" and their "warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome."

Authorities stated that it is too early for official victim identifications to be released, as the medical examiner's office is undertaking a lengthy process of DNA collection and assessment.

The 22-year-old twin-engine Learjet 60 was reported to be experiencing icing and moderate turbulence before its rapid descent from 35,000 feet. The crew made a Mayday emergency call to air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated the aircraft plummeted to the ground at 350 feet per second, creating a large crater.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated on Monday that the aircraft may have been breaking apart before impact. "We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact, and so some of this is yet to be determined. We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site," NTSB board member Tom Chapman said at a news conference.

While the NTSB has not released precise airspeed figures, officials noted the jet was traveling at a high speed. Maintenance records indicate a cockpit voice recorder was installed on the jet, but it is currently unclear if it was operational or aboard during the flight.

One individual on the ground sustained a leg injury in the vicinity of the crash site. Photos and videos from the scene showed the jet hitting the ground nose-first and erupting into a fireball, leaving a significant crater near a shopping center.