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Small plane crashes in Boca Raton, Florida; all 3 on board killed

1:28
Fiery plane crash in Boca Raton, Florida, kills all 3 on board
Marta Lavandier/AP
ByEmily Shapiro and Patricio Chile
April 12, 2025, 6:50 PM

All three people on board a small plane were killed when the aircraft crashed in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday morning, according to local officials and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The "aircraft had apparently some mechanical issues and went down here on Military Trail," Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief for Boca Fire Rescue, said at a news conference. "Also, there was a car on the ground."

Police officers look at wreckage from a small plane crash in Boca Raton, Fla., Apr. 11, 2025.
WPLG
A car burns at the site of a crash in Boca Raton, Florida, April 11, 2025.
Ray Daily/Tmx via Reuters

The injured driver in the car lost control and "hit a tree because of all the debris and the fire," LaSalle said.

The deceased victims were identified Saturday by the Boca Raton Police Services Department.

The three who died were 81-year-old Robert Stark, 54-year-old Stephen Stark, and 17-year-old Brooke Stark, police said.

The injured victim was driving a 2017 Toyota Prius on Military Trail at the time of the crash, police said. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A car burns at the site of a crash in Boca Raton, Florida, April 11, 2025.
WPLG
Emergency crew inspects the site of a small plane crash, April 11, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Marta Lavandier/AP

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The Cessna 310R took off from Boca Raton Airport at 10:15 a.m. and was heading to Tallahassee International Airport, the FAA said. It was in the air for approximately eight to 10 minutes before it crashed, according to Kurt Gibson, an aviation accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft will be sent to an NTSB facility, and investigators are gathering video and interviewing witnesses as part of the agency's probe into the crash, according to Gibson. A preliminary report is expected in 30 days, he said during a press briefing Friday.

Dillon Smith was at his office when he saw the plane flying "extremely low" and appearing like it would hit the roof of a nearby building, he told West Palm Beach ABC affiliate WPBF.

"I saw the plane, basically, turn, come back, and I heard it and saw it go over our building," Smith said.

The site of a small plane crash in Boca, Raton, Fla., Apr. 11, 2025.
Miguel Coka

He lost sight of the plane, but said it then "came back -- it was looking like maybe it was going toward the [nearby Boca Raton] airport."

"I just saw it drop below the trees" and "heard a boom," Smith said. He said his office windows shook and he saw a "fireball."

The wreckage of a small plane burns after crashing in Boca Raton, Fla., Apr. 11, 2025.
Luis Hernandez via Storyful

Video shows what appears to be the small plane's wreckage on railroad tracks next to a road. The fire caused by the crash has been extinguished.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and all affected," Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said.

ABC News' Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.

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