A small aircraft crashed on the morning of Friday, April 11, near Boca Raton Regional Airport in Palm Beach County, Florida. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. (local time) as the plane was approaching the airfield and went down near the intersection of Military Trail and Glades Road, according to authorities cited by NBC6 South Florida.
The crash triggered a fire, with thick plumes of smoke visible from Interstate 95. Helicopter footage aired by NBC6 showed the aircraft had fallen onto train tracks just short of the runway. Emergency crews quickly launched a response operation and used fire-retardant foam to extinguish the flames.
The alert was activated at 10:17 a.m., after the pilot reported mechanical issues during the approach, according to a timeline published by Boca News Now. Boca Raton Police confirmed the immediate closure of several roads to facilitate access for rescue units.
The exact crash site was located at 3700 Airport Road, adjacent to the airport. The train tracks running parallel to I-95 were blocked, disrupting several key traffic routes in South Florida.
As a precaution, authorities shut down North Military Trail between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road, as well as the I-95 overpass at Glades Road in both directions. These closures led to major traffic congestion, according to police alerts posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Emergency operations remain underway as investigators work to determine the cause of the crash. So far, officials have not confirmed the number of people on board, their identities, or details about the aircraft model. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet issued an official statement.
However, Boca News Now reported that three individuals were aboard the aircraft, according to an update released at 10:46 a.m. It remains unclear if there were any survivors.
According to Sun Sentinel, witnesses said the plane burst into flames upon impact and that the fire spread to nearby vegetation. Authorities have not confirmed whether the occupants died on impact or as a result of the fire, nor whether anyone else in the area was injured or if nearby structures sustained damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and may take over the federal investigation, in coordination with the FAA.
The closures along I-95, along with the shutdown of local roads like Military Trail and Glades Road, caused significant delays across parts of Palm Beach County. NBC6 South Florida reported that traffic was slow in both directions near Glades Road due to ramp closures.
Boca Raton Police urged drivers to avoid the area while rescue and recovery efforts continue. Although the duration of the road closures has not been specified, authorities expect the restrictions to remain in place for several hours while the scene is cleared and investigated.
Alternate routes have been made available to ease congestion, though surrounding areas have also experienced delays. WPTV advised local residents to stay informed via local news outlets and official channels.
