South Florida Sun-Sentinel
(TNS)
A small plane crashed and burned when trying to return to the Boca Raton Airport on Friday morning after reporting trouble.
Initial unconfirmed reports indicate at least three people may be dead after the plane crashed short of the airport shortly after 10 a.m., hitting a car and pushing it onto the railroad tracks near Military Trail and Glades Road, said Lt. Karl Richards with Boca Raton Fire Rescue. All trains will be held for now, Richards said.
Three people were on board, and the status of their conditions, including the pilot’s, is still unknown, Richards said.
The plane erupted into flames, sending large plumes of smoke up, visible from Interstate 95. Fire rescue crews have since put the fires out, Richards said.
Military Trail is closed between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road, and the Interstate 95 overpass at Glades Road also is closed both eastbound and westbound, according to the Boca Raton Police Department.
The plane, a Cessna 310, was headed to Tallahassee International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Dylan Smith, 32, said he was on the phone with a client on the fourth floor of the nearby Steel Commander Corp building when he saw the plane and noticed how low it was flying. It almost appeared like it was going to hit another corporate building nearby, he said.
Smith went to the window to watch as the plane performed a U-turn before dropping below the tree line. Then the glass of the windows shook and a mushroom cloud of smoke and flames billowed out from the trees. He knew the plane had crashed.
“I was in disbelief,” he said. “I don’t think people want to see that everyday or ever expect to see that in their lifetime.”
A Boca Raton High School student wrote on X that they watched as the plane flew over the school “super low” before it crashed. The school is on the east side of the interstate.
“Could have been much worse with the mall, high school (and) colleges around here. Prayers for everyone so tragic,” the student wrote.
Richards said the scene is still active, and the city’s fire rescue crews are working with the police department to determine details. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA also will investigate, with the NTSB leading the investigation and providing updates, according to the FAA.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community. At this time, details are still emerging, and we are working closely with emergency responders and authorities,” Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event. We ask for patience and respect for the families involved as investigations continue.”
This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
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