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A small aircraft has crash-landed on the Tri-Rail tracks in Boca Raton, close to Interstate 95, resulting in traffic disruptions on Friday, according to officials.
At approximately 10:20 a.m., a Cessna 310, carrying three individuals, took off from Boca Raton Airport on its way to Tallahassee International Airport before encountering trouble and crashing, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Traffic Disruptions
Boca Raton Police announced on X that North Military Trail is currently blocked off between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road due to the incident.
Additionally, the I-95 overpass at Glades Road has been closed in both directions. Officials are urging the public to steer clear of the affected area.
UPDATE 12:00pm: North Military Trail remains shut between NW 19th St. and Butts Rd. The I-95 overpass at Glades Road remains closed for both eastbound and westbound traffic. Residents are advised to continue avoiding the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to lead the investigation into the incident.
Boca Raton Police have indicated that these road closures are likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
No Immediate Reports of Injuries
Aerial footage captured by Chopper 4 showed debris scattered across the Tri-Rail tracks, with multiple emergency vehicles surrounding the crash scene and fire retardant material visible on the ground.
A vehicle, apparently damaged and propped against a tree, was also observed near the crash, although it remains unclear how many individuals were involved in the incident.
A representative for Tri-Rail confirmed to CBS News Miami that train services have been suspended in the vicinity, and a bus bridge is being established between the Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton stations to assist affected rail commuters.
Issues from Takeoff
Aviation specialist Willard Shepard informed CBS News Miami that a witness reported observing the plane taking off from the nearby airport before encountering difficulties, which led to an attempted return to the airfield prior to the crash.
“Clearly, something went catastrophically wrong, resulting in the plane going down,” Shepard noted, emphasizing that investigators will examine various factors related to the incident.
Eyewitness Accounts
Another eyewitness recounted to CBS News Miami that he was in conversation with a client when he noticed the plane nearly grazing the top of a nearby building before disappearing from view.
“I saw it come down and it essentially just dropped below the tree line,” he stated, describing a loud explosion that followed shortly after: “The windows trembled, and then we saw a considerable cloud of smoke and flames.”
The witness expressed immediate concern about the plane’s low altitude, fearing it might crash into his office building: “You could sense that something was amiss.”
Other onlookers remarked to CBS News Miami’s crew that the impact of the crash felt akin to an earthquake due to the shaking of their buildings.
The FAA, alongside the NTSB, is currently investigating the events leading up to the crash.
Source
www.cbsnews.com