Three people have been confirmed dead after a small aircraft crashed while attempting to land, missing the runway and slamming into a car before erupting into flames.
According to sources, the crash occurred in Boca Raton, Florida, shortly after 10 a.m. local time and involved a Cessna 310R. The aircraft was en route to Tallahassee when it began experiencing serious mechanical problems soon after taking off from the city’s airport.
By around 10:17 a.m., the plane began an emergency descent. Airport emergency crews were reportedly on standby, but the plane failed to reach the runway. Instead, it crashed into a moving car on a nearby road, pushing the vehicle onto a set of railroad tracks. The collision triggered a massive explosion, engulfing the area in fire.
News helicopters flying over the site spotted two bodies within the wreckage. Boca News Now reported that all those aboard the plane had died. It remains unclear whether the vehicle’s occupants were injured.
Disturbing video footage showed flames engulfing the road, with thick smoke and fireballs rising into the sky as emergency sirens wailed in the background.
Authorities have not yet released details about the number or identities of those killed, nor have they speculated on the precise cause of the crash. Locals began sharing images of the smoke cloud visible from the site shortly after the incident.
Boca Raton is located roughly 25 miles south of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. The city’s airport has become increasingly used by visitors associated with Trump, as enhanced security at Palm Beach International Airport has made access more complicated.
One eyewitness posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Possible plane crash right outside my office today. Shook the whole building. Unfortunately I’m certain lives were lost here today.”
“Thoughts and prayers to anyone who survived and the families of those who didn’t. If you’re in Boca stay away from military trail near the glades overpass,” the post continued. Footage shared by the same witness showed small fires still burning at the crash site.
Emergency crews quickly responded, shutting down the surrounding roads and railways while they worked to contain the scene. Local media have since reported that the fires have been extinguished.
The aircraft had reportedly been suffering from mechanical issues before it nosedived into the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it will be conducting a full investigation into the incident.
This tragic crash came just a day after a sightseeing helicopter went down in New York City’s Hudson River, claiming the lives of the pilot and a Spanish family onboard.