Three Killed in Small Plane Crash Near Boca Raton Airport, One Injured on Ground
Three people aboard a small aircraft died Friday morning when the plane crashed near Boca Raton Airport in Florida.
One individual on the ground sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle, who spoke at a news conference.
The aircraft’s pilot had reported issues with the rudder shortly before the crash, a source familiar with the situation told NBC News.
The Cessna 310 had departed from Boca Raton Airport and was en route to Tallahassee International Airport when it went down around 10:20 a.m. ET.
Jared Scarpato, a freshman flight school student, said he and his instructor observed the aircraft flying “too fast and too low.”
“I said out loud, you know, he’s too low. And what’s going through my mind is… once he goes out of sight, you know, that’s just really… devastating,” Scarpato said.
According to NBC South Florida, the plane appeared to circle in the air before attempting to return to Boca Raton Airport. Witnesses working nearby reported seeing the aircraft flying low and later feeling the ground shake.
The plane reportedly burst into flames upon impact. The injured person is believed to have driven through a fireball before crashing into a tree, LaSalle said.
Footage from the scene showed debris scattered across a roadway and railway tracks. NBC South Florida reported that what appeared to be two bodies were visible in the wreckage, along with a damaged vehicle.
Police announced via X (formerly Twitter) just before 11 a.m. that the area near Military Trail and Glades Road was closed due to the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
“On behalf of the city, we express our heartbreak at this tragic loss of life,” said Mayor Scott Singer at the news conference.
Boca Raton Airport was briefly closed following the crash.
