Latest news with #MichaelLaSalle
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boca Raton plane crash kills 3 family members after bizarre flight path: What we know
BOCA RATON — Three members of a South Florida family were killed and a driver injured on the ground Friday morning when a six-seater Cessna 310 plane crashed onto a busy city street near the airport. The Tallahassee-bound plane had departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:12 a.m. Friday and was carrying a pilot and two passengers. It made a series of bizarre loops before coming down on Military Trail near Glades Road. Witnesses said it was dangerously close to the ground before it crashed onto the street where, remarkably, it only affected one driver. Boca Raton plane crash: Mechanical issues after takeoff, a baffling flight path and three dead Upon impact, the aircraft immediately erupted into flames, sending up large plumes of smoke. This is what we know about the Boca Raton plane crash. The plane was a six-seater Cessna 310 plane, built in 1977, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said. It was in the air for about eight to 10 minutes before it hit the ground. Fire rescue crews were able to extinguish the fire, leaving the charred wreckage across the road and on the nearby train tracks. The twin-engine plane was registered to Reprop LLC 310 Series, a corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, Federal Aviation Administration records show. 'Three souls were on board, and we can confirm they were all fatalities,' Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle told reporters shortly after the crash. The people who died were identified Friday night by Boca Raton police as Robert Stark, 81, of Boca Raton; Stephen Stark, 54, of Delray Beach; and Brooke Stark, 17, of Delray Beach. They were relatives, but police did not specify their relationships. BOCA PLANE CRASH: NTSB says plane was built in 1977 and was in air 8-10 minutes The crash did not directly hit anyone, but it forced a northbound driver of a Toyota Prius to swerve and hit a tree. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was able to exit the car and find safety despite being surrounded by fireballs and smoke. The plane crashed onto Military Trail near Glades Road on Friday morning. LaSalle said the aircraft had "some mechanical issues at takeoff." Kurt Gibson, an NTSB spokesman, offered no explanation for the crash but said "our mission is to figure out what happens, why it happens and what we can do to prevent it from happening again." He said the wreckage of the aircraft, which had a registration number of N8930N, will be examined on the ground before being transported to a salvage facility in Jacksonville for further analysis. Aside from the NTSB, the FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. The plane was bound for Tallahassee before the crash. While en route, the plane made a series of strange turns and loops. Shortly after takeoff, the plane ventured in an unconventional path, circling the airport and the vicinity of Boca Raton, playback data from FlightRadar24 indicates. The multiple circular paths suggest the pilot was struggling to straighten the path of the aircraft, but officials were not sure what the cause was for the irregular direction. Social media reactions: Boca Raton plane crash: Social media reactions, videos from Florida tragedy The plane does not have a recording "black box" but Gibson said there are other parameters that will be able to help with the investigation. He added that multiple factors will go into the investigation, including pilot qualifications, 72-hour history for the pilot, maintenance records, wreckage details and environmental factors. Gibson said the standard procedure for the investigation will be a preliminary report in 30 days followed by a 12-24 month report that will offer final analysis and probable cause for the crash. He said although the plane was built nearly 50 years ago, there are "thousands of other planes that are older" and that all planes are fully inspected and certified before flying. Anyone who has audio or video information is encouraged to contact authorities at witness@ Jessica Abramsky contributed to this report. Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@ and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton plane crash: What we know about destination, victims
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boca Raton plane crash kills 3 family members after bizarre flight path: What we know
BOCA RATON — Three members of a South Florida family were killed and a driver injured on the ground Friday morning when a six-seater Cessna 310 plane crashed onto a busy city street near the airport. The Tallahassee-bound plane had departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:12 a.m. Friday and was carrying a pilot and two passengers. It made a series of bizarre loops before coming down on Military Trail near Glades Road. Witnesses said it was dangerously close to the ground before it crashed onto the street where, remarkably, it only affected one driver. Boca Raton plane crash: Mechanical issues after takeoff, a baffling flight path and three dead Upon impact, the aircraft immediately erupted into flames, sending up large plumes of smoke. This is what we know about the Boca Raton plane crash. The plane was a six-seater Cessna 310 plane, built in 1977, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said. It was in the air for about eight to 10 minutes before it hit the ground. Fire rescue crews were able to extinguish the fire, leaving the charred wreckage across the road and on the nearby train tracks. The twin-engine plane was registered to Reprop LLC 310 Series, a corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, Federal Aviation Administration records show. 'Three souls were on board, and we can confirm they were all fatalities,' Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle told reporters shortly after the crash. The people who died were identified Friday night by Boca Raton police as Robert Stark, 81, of Boca Raton; Stephen Stark, 54, of Delray Beach; and Brooke Stark, 17, of Delray Beach. They were relatives, but police did not specify their relationships. BOCA PLANE CRASH: NTSB says plane was built in 1977 and was in air 8-10 minutes The crash did not directly hit anyone, but it forced a northbound driver of a Toyota Prius to swerve and hit a tree. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was able to exit the car and find safety despite being surrounded by fireballs and smoke. The plane crashed onto Military Trail near Glades Road on Friday morning. LaSalle said the aircraft had "some mechanical issues at takeoff." Kurt Gibson, an NTSB spokesman, offered no explanation for the crash but said "our mission is to figure out what happens, why it happens and what we can do to prevent it from happening again." He said the wreckage of the aircraft, which had a registration number of N8930N, will be examined on the ground before being transported to a salvage facility in Jacksonville for further analysis. Aside from the NTSB, the FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. The plane was bound for Tallahassee before the crash. While en route, the plane made a series of strange turns and loops. Shortly after takeoff, the plane ventured in an unconventional path, circling the airport and the vicinity of Boca Raton, playback data from FlightRadar24 indicates. The multiple circular paths suggest the pilot was struggling to straighten the path of the aircraft, but officials were not sure what the cause was for the irregular direction. Social media reactions: Boca Raton plane crash: Social media reactions, videos from Florida tragedy The plane does not have a recording "black box" but Gibson said there are other parameters that will be able to help with the investigation. He added that multiple factors will go into the investigation, including pilot qualifications, 72-hour history for the pilot, maintenance records, wreckage details and environmental factors. Gibson said the standard procedure for the investigation will be a preliminary report in 30 days followed by a 12-24 month report that will offer final analysis and probable cause for the crash. He said although the plane was built nearly 50 years ago, there are "thousands of other planes that are older" and that all planes are fully inspected and certified before flying. Anyone who has audio or video information is encouraged to contact authorities at witness@ Jessica Abramsky contributed to this report. Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@ and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton plane crash: What we know about destination, victims
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mechanical issues after Boca Raton takeoff to TLH, a baffling flight path and 3 dead
BOCA RATON — Three people were killed and another injured after a six-seater Cessna 310 plane crashed onto Military Trail near Glades Road on Friday morning. The plane had departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:12 a.m. and was carrying a pilot and two passengers. It made a series of bizarre loops and witnesses said it was dangerously close to the ground before it crashed onto the busy street where, remarkably, only affected one driver. Bound for Tallahassee International Airport, the aircraft hit the ground and immediately erupted into flames, sending up large plumes of smoke that nearby homes, offices and schools witnessed. The crash did not directly hit anyone, but it forced a northbound driver of a Toyota Prius to swerve and hit a tree. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was able to exit the car and find safety despite being surrounded by fireballs and smoke. 'Three souls were on board, and we can confirm they were all fatalities,' Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle told reporters shortly after the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation, but said that local authorities — presumably Boca Raton Police — would release the names of the deceased. The plane was six-seater built in 1977, a NTSB spokesman said. It was in the air for about 8-10 minutes before it hit the ground. Fire rescue crews were able to extinguish the fire, leaving the charred wreckage across the road and on the nearby train tracks. Kurt Gibson, the spokesman, did not offer any clues as to why the plane went down other than to say, "our mission is to figure out what happens, why it happens and what we can do to prevent it from happening again." He said the wreckage of the aircraft, which had a registration number N8930N, will be examined on the ground before being transported to a salvage facility in Jacksonville for further analysis. The aircraft had "some mechanical issues at takeoff and went down on Military Trail, about a mile from the airport," LaSalle said. Shortly after takeoff, the plane ventured in an unconventional path, circling the airport and the vicinity of Boca Raton, playback data from FlightRadar24 indicates. The multiple circular paths suggest the pilot was struggling to straighten the path of the aircraft, but officials were not sure what the cause was for the irregular direction. Gibson said the standard procedure for the investigation will be a preliminary report in 30 days followed by a 12-24 month report that will offer final analysis and probable cause for the crash. He said although the plane was built nearly 50 years ago, there are "thousands of other planes that are older" and that all planes are fully inspected and certified before flying. The plane does not have a recording "black box" but Gibson said there are other parameters that will be able to help with the investigation. He added that multiple factors will go into the investigation, including pilot qualifications, 72-hour history for the pilot, maintenance records, wreckage details and environmental factors. Aside from the NTSB investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are actively investigating the cause of the crash. The twin-engine plane is registered to Reprop LLC 310 Series, a corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, Federal Aviation Administration records show. Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton) said her thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased. 'I am incredibly grateful to the first responders, law enforcement officers, and emergency personnel who arrived with urgency and bravery at the scene," Berman said in a statement. "Their swift action helped prevent further tragedy in an unthinkable situation. The loss of life in such a sudden and violent manner is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected." BOCA PLANE CRASH: NTSB says plane was built in 1977 and was in air 8-10 minutes BOCA PLANE CRASH: Photos, videos from deadly crash scene in Florida BOCA PLANE CRASH: Social media reactions, videos from Florida tragedy Boca Raton Scott Singer also addressed the media Friday. '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,' he 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." North Military Trail between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road remained closed Friday night. The Interstate 95 overpass at Glades Road eastbound and westbound reopened around 2 p.m., Boca Police said. Friday's crash came one day after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York, killing six people. Boca Raton's airport is a state-owned, public-use airport about 2 miles northwest of downtown. It's adjacent to Florida Atlantic University and can be seen from Interstate 95. It is designated as a general aviation transport facility governed by a seven-member Authority appointed by the City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County Commission. The Boca Raton Airport has been a safe airport over the years. The last significant crash came in 2000, according to the Flight Safety Foundation. A Learjet 55 collided after takeoff at 2,400 feet southwest of the airport with an Extra – EA3005 — that had departed the Pompano Air Park. Four were killed. Ultimately, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled pilot error for failing to maintain a visual lookout for other planes. Also, in February 2025, an Embraer Praetor 600 jet hit a bird during a charter flight near the airport that damaged the plane's nose. There were no injuries. Anyone who has audio or video information is encouraged to contact authorities at witness@ Jessica Abramsky contributed to this report. Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@ and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida plane crash: Mechanical issues put Cessna in instant trouble
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Boca plane crash live updates: All passengers killed in crash near Boca Raton Airport
All three people in a small plane were killed after the plane crashed around 10:12 a.m., Friday, April 11, near the Boca Raton Airport. According to Boca Raton Assistant Fire Chief Michael LaSalle, the aircraft had "some mechanical issues at takeoff and went down on Military Trail, about a mile from the airport." LaSalle confirmed all three people on the plane, which was headed to Tallahassee, were killed. A man driving a car on Military Trail was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, he said. The man swerved from the smoke and fireball and drove into a tree. After crashing, the plane erupted into flames and sent up large plumes of smoke that nearby homes, offices and schools saw. Fire rescue crews were able to extinguish the fire. The names of the victims have not been released. The plane crash scattered debris across the road and the nearby train tracks. LaSalle said the lead investigating agency will be the National Transportation Safety Board. An NTSB spokesman said the plane was a six-seater built in 1977. It had the registration number N8930N and departed Boca Raton Airport at 10:12 a.m. It was in the air approximately 8-10 minutes before it crashed just near the train tracks at Military Trail near Interstate 95 and Glades Road. The next steps are a full ground investigation and moving the wreckage of the plane to a facility in Jacksonville. In 30 days a preliminary report will be issued and a final report 12-24 months later that will have full analysis and probable cause. The spokesman said there is no recording "black box" on the plane, but that they will still be able to track information on what possibly went wrong based on other parameters. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are actively investigating the cause of the crash. They will remain in close contact with local officials as more information becomes available. In the meantime, local officials recommend avoiding Glades Road and Military Trail. Boca Raton police have blocked off surrounding roads, including North Military Trail between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was a Cessna 310. It was headed to Tallahassee International Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board will arrive in Boca Raton around 4 p.m., according to a spokesperson with Boca Raton Police. It is not clear if the NTSB will offer details of the investigation at that time. Boca Raton Airport is also closed and at nearby Boca Raton High School, officials are asking parents to not pick up their kids because of traffic congestion in the area. The School District of Palm Beach County said access to Boca Raton High School may be affected because of the crash. The Interstate 95 overpass at Glades Road is also closed both eastbound and westbound. The plane, a twin-propeller aircraft, was taking off from the airport, officials said. Tri Rail announced that a bus bridge has been established between the Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton Stations. The company said rail service will continue south of Deerfield and north of Boca, however riders may want to seek alternative transportation because of expected delays. The airport is a state-owned, public-use airport about 2 miles northwest of downtown Boca Raton. It's adjacent to Florida Atlantic University and can be seen from Interstate 95. It is designated as a general aviation transport facility governed by a seven-member Authority appointed by the City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County Commission. Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton) said her thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased. 'I am incredibly grateful to the first responders, law enforcement officers, and emergency personnel who arrived with urgency and bravery at the scene," Berman said in a statement. "Their swift action helped prevent further tragedy in an unthinkable situation. The loss of life in such a sudden and violent manner is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected." Boca Raton Scott Singer also addressed the media around 12:15 p.m. '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,' he 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.' The Boca Raton Airport has been a safe airport over the years. The last significant crash came in 2000, according to the Flight Safety Foundation. A Learjet 55 collided after takeoff at 2,400 feet southwest of the airport with an Extra – EA3005 — that had departed the Pompano Air Park. Four were killed. Ultimately, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled pilot error for failing to maintain a visual lookout for other planes. Also, in February 2025, an Embraer Praetor 600 jet hit a bird during a charter flight near the airport that damaged the plane's nose. There were no injuries. Jessica Abramsky contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Please check back to for updates. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca plane crash updates: 3 dead after Cessna 310 accident in Florida
Times of Oman
12-04-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
US: Three people killed after small plane crashes on busy street in Florida's Boca Raton
Florida: Three people were killed after a small plane crashed along a busy street and erupted into a fireball just outside Boca Raton in Florida on Friday, CNN reported. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will carry out an investigation into the plane crash. According to Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief with Boca Raton Fire Rescue, three people who were onboard the twin-engine Cessna 310 when it crashed were killed. A man who was driving a car in the area was injured after hitting a tree due to debris and fire from the plane crash. LaSalle said he suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. In a statement, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said, "We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community." Singer added, "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event. We ask for patience and respect for the families involved as investigations continue," CNN reported. According to officials, the aircraft took off from Boca Raton at about 10 am and was heading to Tallahassee. According to LaSalle and the FAA, Boca Raton fire and police dispatch received a call for a plane in trouble at about 10:12 am, and the aircraft crashed at 10:20 am. The assistant fire chief said the plane had "some mechanical issues." Data from FlightRadar24 shows the plane made repeated loops around the aircraft before the crash, CNN reported. In a video shared on social media, one witness said, "I heard it like zooming by a couple of times and then whew - a plane crashed." Another person said, "The whole building shook."
