Boca Raton Plane Crash: 3 Dead, 1 Injured in Tragic Small Aircraft Accident
A Cessna 310R aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in Boca Raton, Florida, leaving three passengers dead and one person on the ground injured.
BOCA RATON, FL — April 11, 2025 — A small aircraft crashed Friday morning in Boca Raton, Florida, killing all three people on board and injuring a man on the ground, according to local authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Crash Site and Cause Under Investigation
The incident occurred near Military Trail shortly after the Cessna 310R departed from Boca Raton Airport, en route to Tallahassee International Airport. According to Boca Fire Rescue, the aircraft experienced what appears to have been mechanical failure minutes after takeoff.
Assistant Fire Chief Michael LaSalle stated during a press briefing that the plane went down near a vehicle, and the man inside sustained non-life-threatening injuries. "He struck a tree due to the debris and fire surrounding the crash site," LaSalle added.
The FAA confirmed the plane had been airborne for less than 20 minutes before it went down. Real-time flight data from Flightradar24 also corroborates the brief flight duration.
Eyewitness Reports Paint a Harrowing Picture
Local resident Dillon Smith described the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. He told WPBF, the local ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach, that the plane was flying unusually low and appeared to struggle in mid-air. "I saw it turn back as if trying to return to the airport, then drop below the trees. Moments later, I heard a loud boom and saw a fireball," Smith recalled.
Footage from the scene shows the wreckage scattered along railroad tracks adjacent to a roadway. Emergency crews quickly extinguished the blaze caused by the impact.
Officials Respond and Investigate
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer expressed his condolences, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident."
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the cause of the crash to determine what led to the fatal mechanical failure.
This heartbreaking accident has shaken the Boca Raton community. As investigations continue, both local residents and aviation authorities hope to uncover what led to the crash and how such tragedies can be prevented in the future.