A small plane carrying three people fell from the sky Friday morning in south Florida, then collided with a car on the ground, pushing it onto a nearby set of train tracks as it burst into flames, officials said.
Everyone onboard the Cessna 310 aircraft were killed in the fiery crash in Boca Raton, while a fourth person on the ground — who was driving at the time — was left injured, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The driver’s exact condition was not provided, but he’s expected to recover.
“He hit a tree because of all the debris and the fire,” Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief for Boca Fire Rescue, told reporters.
LaSalle noted the aircraft apparently “had some mechanical issues and went down here on Military Trail,” near Interstate 95, a major thoroughfare some 50 miles outside Miami.
The plane had been headed for Tallahassee International Airport, but the pilot reported rudder issues not long after departing from Boca Raton Airport, sources told NBC News.
The crash itself was reported just after 10:20 a.m., less than 20 minutes after takeoff, according to FlightRadar24.
When first responders arrived on the scene, both the plane and a vehicle were already fully engulfed in flames, which have since been extinguished, TMZ reported.
Footage from the scene obtained by NBC 6 captured the grisly aftermath of the crash. It shows wreckage strewn about the street and skid marks likely caused by the aircraft’s fruitless efforts to regain control.
“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 cause of the crash remained unclear as of Friday afternoon and several roads near the Boca Raton Airport remained closed.
With News Wire Services
