Cessna 310 Goes Down Minutes After Takeoff
A small aircraft crashed near Interstate 95 in Boca Raton on Friday morning, killing three people on board and injuring one person on the ground. The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 310R registered under REPROP LLC, departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:15am, en route to Tallahassee. The plane crashed within 8 to 10 minutes of takeoff, according to investigators.
Fireball Erupts Upon Impact
Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle confirmed the crash emitted a fireball upon impact. LaSalle said the flames engulfed a nearby car, injuring the driver. “One gentleman on the ground, he hit a tree because of all the debris and the fire,” LaSalle stated. “It was from the fireball on the ground, he drove through apparently the fireball.” Authorities transported the injured person, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Plane crash in Boca Raton. Praying! pic.twitter.com/9c9l84HeIn
— RonyJ (@RonyJ0) April 11, 2025
Crash Near Busy Interchange
The crash occurred near the Glades Road interchange, close to Florida Atlantic University. Witnesses reported seeing a low-flying plane followed by an explosion and heavy smoke. Roads surrounding the crash site, including North Military Trail, remained closed for most of the day.
Witnesses Describe Chaos
Josh Orsino, 31, described the moment the plane went down. “We’re just sitting there, and I see the palm trees start catching on fire,” he said. “I thought it was an oil rig or a car crash type thing.” Orsino said drivers panicked and tried to escape the area, fearing the overpass might collapse. “My first instinct was like, I got to get off this bridge. I’m getting out of here,” he said.
Another witness, Miguel Coka, 51, works near the airport and captured the aftermath on video. “There was a rumble and everyone in the building felt it,” Coka said. “We are all shocked.”
Another plane crash. When will Donald Trump take responsibility?
He cuts the FAA and we all pay. pic.twitter.com/gTL4nhoaN9
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 11, 2025
Vehicle Struck by Plane Debris
A man identified only as Tafur recounted escaping his burning car after the plane exploded near him. “I saw the plane fly low and continued through and next thing I know it’s on top, right in front of me and exploded,” he said. “I tried to steer out of the way but it was pretty much unavoidable. Got out of the car that was on fire, through the flames, and made it to safety.”
Crazy scene here in South Florida. Friend of mine was on the scene just moments after the plane crash in Boca Raton pic.twitter.com/eJBAK1QMIK
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) April 11, 2025
Reports of Mechanical Failure
Student pilot Jared Scarpato, who was taking an exam at a nearby flight school, heard alarming radio chatter. “We heard from somebody taxiing on the runaway that there was a plane that declared an emergency for some sort of rudder malfunction,” Scarpato said. “He kept decreasing in altitude. He was going just too fast, and too low. He turned final, and he was about to try to land again. He was out of site for three seconds, and after that it was just black smoke.”
Data Reveals Circular Flight Path
Flight data from Flightradar24 and Flight Aware indicated the Cessna circled multiple times before attempting to return. Witness Dillon Smith said, “It basically came back, it was looking like maybe it was going towards the airport, approaching and from there I just saw it drop below the trees.” Smith said the impact shook nearby windows.
Figure 1: Flight path of Cessna 310
NTSB Launches Full Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation. Kurt Gibson, an NTSB aviation accident investigator, confirmed the aircraft had been airborne for eight to ten minutes. “The Cessna 310R has a long history of being a safe aircraft,” Gibson said. “We will, of course, be looking at it. The three things that we will be looking at – we always look at the pilot, the pilot’s qualifications, his 72-hour history, anything else that might be going on in his life.”
Investigators plan to examine maintenance records and the aircraft wreckage. Authorities will move the debris to a salvage site for detailed analysis. A preliminary report will be available in one month. The final report could take up to 24 months.
Transport Disruption in Boca Raton
Tri-Rail suspended rail service between Boca Raton and Deerfield stations due to debris on the tracks. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority activated a bus bridge between the stations to support commuters. Authorities advised passengers to expect ongoing delays.
Local Leaders Respond
Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer addressed the crash in a public statement. “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community. At this time, details are still emerging, and we are working closely with emergency responders and authorities,” Singer said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event. We ask for patience and respect for the families involved as investigations continue.”
Later, Singer spoke to reporters and added, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and all affected, of the deceased.”
Officials Secure Site and Clear Wreckage
Crews worked throughout the day to remove wreckage from the scene and clear the railway line. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s office also responded. Authorities recovered the bodies of the three individuals from the wreckage. The aircraft was manufactured in 1977 and showed signs of structural failure before impact.
Figure 2: Wreckage of the plane crash
Aviation Safety Concerns Persist
The crash follows another aviation tragedy involving a sightseeing helicopter in New York. Federal officials continue to highlight aviation as the safest travel method. However, increasing numbers of near-misses and accidents have drawn public scrutiny. Gibson said, “Our mission at the NTSB is to figure out what happened, why it happened and what we can do to prevent this from happening again.”
The investigation remains ongoing as officials collect evidence, analyse data, and interview witnesses.
