BOCA RATON, Fla. – Three people were pronounced dead and one was injured Friday morning after a small plane crashed near a busy intersection in Boca Raton, authorities confirmed.
The crash happened around 10:20 a.m. near Military Trail and Glades Road, not far from Boca Raton Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft involved was a Cessna 310 that had just taken off from Boca Raton Airport and was en route to Tallahassee when it went down near the intersection of North Military Trail and Glades Road.
Video obtained by Local 10 News showed the moment the small plane was flying in circles until it fell from the sky and exploded in flames.
Michael LaSalle, assistant chief with Boca Raton Fire Rescue, said three people aboard the plane were killed in the crash, and a man who was on the ground was injured.
He said the individual on the ground was struck by debris from the crash, including part of a tree, and was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries. LaSalle also confirmed there were no injuries to a man in a car who was near the crash site.
3 p.m. report:
Cellphone video shared with Local 10 captured plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage.
Student pilot Jared Scarpato says he was at his flight school nearby and heard the transmissions — a stuck rudder on the plane.
“He was just too low. They declared an emergency for a rudder, a rudder issue, and they were trying to come into land, but they couldn’t seem to get the airplane on the ground safely,” Scarpato said. “It was stuck to one side. He could only make left turns.”
Witnesses told Local 10’s Andrew Perez that the aircraft appeared to be flying unusually low before the crash.
“Basically, it came back. It was looking like maybe it was going towards the airport approaching, and from there I just saw it drop below the trees,” said Dillon Smith, who works nearby.
David Simon, who also works in the area, added, “I initially heard a boom. I’m remembering this correctly, but I heard the boom and basically shake of the windows simultaneously and then saw a cloud of smoke and a fireball.”
Authorities said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. They have not disclosed the age, gender or identities of the deceased victims involved in the crash.
“On behalf of the city, we express our heartbreak at this tragic loss of life. Out thoughts and prayers go out to the families and all affected of the deceased,” said Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer. “We can be grateful in tragic moments like this for the swift action of our Boca Raton fire and police department who work to minimize the harm and respond to the immediate concern of the fire.”
Noon report:
Officials with the Florida Department of Transportation said that all eastbound and westbound lanes of Glades Road and the Interstate 95 ramps are now open.
Tri-Rail also announced that due to the crash near the rail corridor, a bus bridge has been established between the Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton stations.
A spokesperson for the transportation company said services will continue south of Deerfield and north of Boca Raton, but riders were encouraged to seek alternative transportation due to traffic delays.
Related media
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: N. Military Trail is closed between NW 19th St. and Butts Rd. due to small aircraft crash. I-95 overpass at Glades Rd. is also closed eastbound and westbound. Avoid the Area. pic.twitter.com/U0XjnSd76O
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) April 11, 2025
