Three people dead after plane crashes onto highway in Boca Raton, Florida

Three people have died after a small plane crashed into a highway in a city in Florida.

Footage showed the burning wreckage of the aircraft as well as a car ablaze near the crash site in Boca Raton on Friday morning.

Residents described hearing a plane which sounded ‘really loud and low’ shortly before.

The aircraft experienced ‘mechanical issues’ before falling from the sky, Michael LaSalle, assistant fire chief for Boca Fire Rescue, said at a news conference.

A motorist was injured after hitting a tree while avoiding the debris and fire.

Flight data showed the Cessna 310R propeller aircraft circling and zigzagging multiple times shortly after taking off from Boca Raton Airport at 10.15am local time.

Local police told people to ‘avoid the area’ and closed two highways as well as an overpass near the crash site.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: N. Military Trail is closed between NW 19th St. and Butts Rd. due to small aircraft crash. I-95 overpass at Glades Rd. is also closed eastbound and westbound. Avoid the Area. pic.twitter.com/U0XjnSd76O

— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) April 11, 2025

‘The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct the investigation,’ the force added. ‘We expect the road closures to remain into the foreseeable future.’

Debris was scattered across the road and an adjacent railway.

The body of one of the victims appeared to be briefly visible in early live footage from a local news helicopter.