Witnesses Recall Traumatic Plane Crash in Boca Raton That Killed Three, Injured One

Boca Raton, Fla. — Friday’s tragic plane crash in Boca Raton, which claimed the lives of three people aboard and left one person on the ground injured, has left local residents and aviation students shaken. Among the witnesses was Jared Scarpato, an 18-year-old freshman at Lynn University’s flight school, who was studying for an end-of-course exam when he heard emergency reports on the university’s air traffic frequency.

Scarpato, who was observing the scene, said the pilot of the twin-engine plane appeared to be experiencing severe rudder issues, which can be especially dangerous. “It sounded like a stuck rudder,” he explained. “He was circling the airport and could only turn left, not right.”

The young student said the pilot was attempting to land at the Boca Raton Airport before the crash. “I said to my instructor, ‘He is very, very low,'” Scarpato recalled. “We lost sight of him on the final leg before trying to land, and all we saw was a big explosion and a plume of smoke. All of us were incredibly shell-shocked.” He described the moment as a “traumatic experience,” stating that it only took about “three seconds” from losing sight of the plane to witnessing the explosion.

Scarpato offered his thoughts and prayers to the victims, adding, “These guys were 100% trying their absolute best to get on the ground safely. Just devastating.” However, despite the tragic event, he confirmed that it would not deter him from his dream of becoming a pilot. “Not at all, I’d get in a plane an hour from now,” Scarpato said.

Another aviation student, 19-year-old Justin Torres, witnessed the plane circling low and noticed the abnormal height, estimating the aircraft was flying at only 200 feet rather than the typical 1,000 feet. Torres also noted the rudder issue and described the situation as “nerve-wracking,” though he remains committed to his pilot training.

Thomas Sheil, a prospective pilot visiting from New York, was also near the crash site after the plane went down. He observed the plane flying “very sharply” before the crash and later saw smoke. “It didn’t look that good,” Sheil said, acknowledging that the incident has made him reconsider moving forward with his pilot’s license. “I’ve been hesitant about it for a while, and this has definitely made me hold off until we figure out what’s going on with all the plane crashes this year,” he admitted.

As the community processes the shock of the crash, local authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.