3 dead, 1 injured after small plane crashes onto Florida roadway
Authorities are investigating after a deadly plane crash involving a Cessna 310 aircraft Friday morning in Boca Raton.
Fire rescue officials confirmed three people are dead and one person, Pablo Tafur, 24, of Boca Raton, was injured on the ground. The plane experienced mechanical issues.
The Boca Raton Police Department released the names of the three victims of the crash, who are all from the same family:
- Robert Stark, 81, of Boca Raton
- Stephen Stark, 54, of Delray Beach
- Brooke Stark, 17, of Delray Beach
It happened around 10:20 a.m. in the 1900 block of Military Trail.
Boca Raton police said in a social media post that several roads near the Boca Raton Airport were closed near Interstate 95. Local media reported the plane was on fire, with a large plume of smoke, and firefighters were responding.
"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 aircraft was a Cessna 310, which is a twin engine small aircraft, according to data from FlightRadar24.
The flight tracking site shows the aircraft made repeated loops around the airport before the crash.
"I heard it like zooming by a couple of times, and then whew, a plane crashed," one witness said on a video posted to social media.
"The whole building shook," another man noted.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was headed to Tallahassee International Airport.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are handling the investigation.
The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.