A small plane crashed near Boca Raton Airport in Florida on Friday morning, killing all three people aboard and injuring one person on the ground, officials said.
During the afternoon press conference, police confirmed that “there were three fatalities in the aircraft,” LaSalle said.
One person sustained injuries when his vehicle was caught in the aftermath of the crash. “One gentleman on the ground, he hit a tree because of all the debris and the fire, it’s non-life threatening injuries on him. We treated him and sent him to the hospital,” LaSalle said.
When questioned by reporters, he said the driver allegedly “drove through, apparently, the fireball,“ though he noted this information was ”unconfirmed.”
The crash created multiple transportation disruptions throughout the area. Tri-Rail announced on social media that “a bus bridge has been established between Deerfield Beach & Boca Raton Stations” due to the crash. The transit authority advised that “rail service will continue south of Deerfield & north of Boca, however riders may want to seek alternative transportation due to expected delays.”
Boca Raton Police implemented multiple road closures following the crash, including North Military Trail between NW 19th Street and Butts Road, the I-95 overpass at Glades Road in both directions, I-95 ramps to westbound Glades Road, two lanes on I-95 southbound near Glades Road, and Glades Road from Renaissance Way to Airport Road in both directions, according to a series of updates posted on X.
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer expressed condolences to the passengers on board during the press conference.
“On behalf of the city, 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,” Singer said.
He also praised the quick response from emergency crews.
“We could 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 worked to minimize the harm and respond to the immediate concern from the fire,” he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash, with the FAA also participating, according to the FAA’s statement. Officials have not yet released the identities of those killed in the crash or provided additional details about what might have caused the plane to go down.
Emergency responders received the initial call about “a plane in trouble” at approximately 10:12 a.m., according to LaSalle, who noted that units were initially dispatched to Boca Raton Airport before discovering the plane had crashed on Military Trail.
