A tragic accident occurred in South Florida on Friday morning when a small plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuring one. The incident took place near a significant interstate highway in Boca Raton, leading to a dramatic sequence of events that included a car being pushed onto railroad tracks.
The Cessna 310 aircraft, identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), had three individuals on board when it went down around 10:20 a.m. shortly after departing from Boca Raton Airport, en route to Tallahassee. Upon impact, the crash emitted a fireball, which injured a person in a nearby vehicle, according to Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle. Authorities have since closed several roads near the airport and Interstate 95 as a precaution.
Fire officials reported to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the crash forced a car onto adjacent railroad tracks, necessitating a temporary closure of the tracks. Witnesses to the event described the chaos that ensued. Josh Orsino, who was nearby, recounted hearing a loud explosion and witnessing a fireball approaching, igniting palm trees. Concerned for his safety, Orsino, along with others, hurriedly attempted to vacate the area.
Miguel Coka, another witness who works close to the airport, mentioned that he regularly sees planes at low altitudes preparing to land, but this incident was markedly different. A loud rumble was felt throughout his workplace when the crash occurred, leaving him and his colleagues in shock. Coka captured footage of the smoke and flames from his office balcony.
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer expressed sorrow over the tragedy, stating that investigations were underway in collaboration with local emergency responders and authorities. He urged patience and respect for the affected families as details of the event continue to unfold.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting a thorough investigation, with the NTSB taking the lead. This unfortunate incident in South Florida follows closely on the heels of another tragic event in New York City, where a sightseeing helicopter fell apart midair, resulting in multiple casualties.