Three people are dead after a small plane crashed near a major highway in Boca Raton, Florida on Friday afternoon.
The aircraft, a Cessna 310, crashed around 10.20am after departing from Boca Raton Airport around 10.13am. The plane was heading to Tallahassee International Airport. Data from Flightradar24 showed the plane trying to return to the Boca airport shortly after takeoff.
Officials said the aircraft was experiencing mechanical issues.
Around 12.30pm, police confirmed the people on board did not survive after examining the wreckage on Military Highway. A man in his car was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said he drove through a fiery explosion caused by the crash and hit a tree.
Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief for Boca Fire Rescue, told reporters that officials responded to a call about an aircraft in distress.
Speaking on behalf of the city, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Springer offered his condolences to the families of the victims. “We express our heartbreak at this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and all affected of the deceased.
“We can be grateful in tragic moments like this for the swift action of our Boca Raton Fire Rescue Department and our Boca Raton Police Department, who work to minimize the harm and respond to the immediate concern from the fire.”
Social media footage showed smoke plumes rising from the impact site. Police temporarily closed roads in the area due to the crash, including the I-95 overpass at Glades Road eastbound and westbound. Officials are asking commuters to avoid the area. The Boca Raton Airport also temporarily closed to incoming and outgoing traffic.
The Cessna 310R is a twin-prop aircraft capable of seating up to six people. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident and will provide updates.
Miguel Coka, 51, who works near the Boca Raton airport, told the Associated Press that he and his colleagues could tell there was something wrong when he saw the plane flying low.
“There was a rumble and everyone in the building felt it,” he said. “We are all shocked.”
The crash occurred a day after a helicopter carrying six people crashed in the Hudson River near New York City, killing a family of five Spanish tourists and a pilot.
