A plane crash near Boca Raton Airport in Florida claimed the lives of three people on Friday (April 11) morning. The Cessna 310 aircraft was headed to Tallahassee. It went down soon after takeoff. Onlookers have said the plane was flying dangerously low before the fatal impact. An investigation is reportedly underway to determine what caused the deadly crash.
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Three People Died In The Plane Crash
CNN reports that the Cessna 310 departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:20 a.m. ET. Once in the air, the pilot reported issues with the rudder. Reports indicate the plane circled multiple times, attempting to return to the airport before it crashed and erupted in flames.
A man named Jared Scarpato witnessed the plane flying alarmingly low and fast. He told NBC News, “I said out loud, you know, he’s too low. And you know, what’s going through my mind is … once he goes out of sight, you know that’s just really … devastating.”
Nearby workers, per NBC Miami, felt their building tremble from the heavy impact despite the plane’s small size. Additionally, debris was scattered across a roadway and train tracks. There was also a damaged vehicle and two bodies visible in the wreckage. The identities of the victims have not been revealed.
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
At a news conference, Michael LaSalle, the Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief, noted the injured person on the ground had driven through a fireball and collided with a tree. Authorities closed the Military Trail and Glades Road. Also, the Boca Raton Airport temporarily halted operations. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating the cause of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Mayor Scott Singer expressed the community’s grief, stating, “On behalf of the city, we express our heartbreak at this tragic loss of life.”
BOCA RATON PLANE CRASH: Appears that the plane had some kind of malfunction with the rudder. pic.twitter.com/9I2yz18pYw
— Dolphin Dan🇺🇸 (@NJPHINSFANATIC) April 11, 2025
Helicopter Recently Crashed In New York
News of the Boca Raton crash comes just one day after a family of five, as well as their pilot, lost their lives in a helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in New York City.
Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, Augustin, Victor, and Mercedes, were among the victims. The family was in the Big Apple to celebrate Mercedes’ 8th birthday and the mom’s 40th. According to the New York Post, the family had just landed in NYC from Barcelona. They were reportedly eager for a helicopter trip overlooking the skyline when they hopped on the doomed chopper. Minutes before the fatal crash, the family posed for photos in front of the helicopter. Another widely shared social media image shows the Escobars smiling inside the aircraft.
This is the Escobar family visiting NYC from Spain.
They were excited for a helicopter tour around Manhattan.
These are their very last pics. Ever.
The chopper crashed into the Hudson River killing both parents and all three kids, and the pilot.
Another stark reminder… pic.twitter.com/vhYRf1NSPo
— Surviving The Survivor Podcast (@PodcastSTS) April 11, 2025
The pilot, identified as 36-year-old Navy SEAL veteran Sean Johnson, also didn’t make it. Just 18 minutes after takeoff from a downtown heliport, the pilot radioed in, saying they were low on fuel. Then, the helicopter’s parts began falling off mid-air before it plunged into the river, per FDNY officials. Video footage of the incident has since surfaced online. It shows the helicopter hitting the river with stunned onlookers in the distance.
Mayor Adams called it a “real unfortunate situation,” telling FOX5, “Our heart goes out to the family members.” Additionally, Jersey City’s mayor, Steven Fulop, shared on X that Escobar was in the city for work, and his family flew in to make it a special trip.
A little context + I’m sharing this bc life moves quick + we don’t always think about the fact it is unpredictable + extremely fragile. On the helicopter crash. The Husband was here for a business trip + the family flew out to extend the trip a couple days in NYC. They were… https://t.co/E22Y6fM3B3
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) April 11, 2025
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