A small plane crashed and burst into flames on a busy street just outside the Boca Raton, Florida, airport Friday morning, killing three people on board.
The crash happened just minutes after the twin-engine Cessna 310 took off from the airport around 10 a.m., headed for Tallahassee. According to officials, the plane reported mechanical problems and tried to return, but went down at 10:20 a.m.
Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief with Boca Raton Fire Rescue, confirmed the three people on the plane died. A driver nearby was also hurt after hitting a tree while trying to avoid debris and flames. His injuries are not life-threatening.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community,” 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.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will look into what caused the crash.
Flight data shows the plane circled the airport several times before going down. Witnesses in the area described hearing the plane flying low before the crash.
“I heard it like zooming by a couple of times and then whew – a plane crashed,” one witness said in a video posted online.
“The whole building shook,” another person said.
