Boca Raton, Florida, April 12, 2025 – A small plane crash on Friday morning near Boca Raton Airport left three people dead and one injured, sending shockwaves through the South Florida community. The Cessna 310R, which had just taken off from the airport en route to Tallahassee International Airport, went down around 10:20 a.m. on Military Trail near Glades Road, erupting into a fireball that shook nearby buildings.
According to Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle, the plane experienced mechanical issues shortly after takeoff. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying dangerously low, with some describing a “weird flying pattern” as it circled back toward the airport, possibly attempting an emergency landing. Flightradar24 data confirmed the plane was airborne for less than 20 minutes, never ascending above 600 feet. A student pilot at the airport, Jared Scarpato, heard over the radio that the pilot declared an emergency due to a stuck rudder before the crash.
The impact was catastrophic. The plane struck a car on the ground, pushing it onto nearby Tri-Rail tracks and igniting a massive fire. All three people on board the aircraft perished, and their identities have not yet been released. The driver of the car, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, reportedly drove through the fireball and crashed into a tree. He was treated at a local hospital. Debris from the crash scattered across the road and tracks, with palm trees catching fire as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
“I saw the plane flying so low, I thought it would hit our building,” said Dylan Smith, a witness working nearby. “Then I heard a boom, and the windows shook—a mushroom cloud of smoke rose up.” Others described the crash as feeling like an earthquake, with one office worker noting the plane appeared to be at eye level with their fourth-floor window.
The crash caused significant disruptions. Military Trail was closed between NW 19th Street and Butts Road, and the I-95 overpass at Glades Road was shut down in both directions for much of the day, though it reopened by early afternoon. Tri-Rail established a bus bridge between Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton stations due to the wreckage on the tracks, warning of delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer expressed the city’s grief, saying, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased.” The crash, coming just a day after a deadly helicopter incident in New York’s Hudson River, has heightened concerns about aviation safety. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains on edge, awaiting answers about what led to this devastating event.
