Scammer
Banned
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A small airplane has crashed at Palm Beach International Airport, killing three on board, according to West Palm Beach fire-rescue officials.
One survivor has been transported to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Four people were reported to be on board the Piper Seminole PA-44 airplane that crashed during takeoff shortly after 6 PM. The plane was reportedly en route to Melbourne.
Fire officials have confirmed that three people are dead in the crash and the survivor was in critical condition. A West Palm Beach Fire-Rescue batallion chief said the plane had been cleared for takeoff. It appears the plane had begun its takeoff and gained some altitude when a problem developed.
Neither the airport nor the FAA could immediately identify the pilot or the passengers. Records show the plane was owned by FIT Aviation LLC, a Melbourne flight school owned by Florida Institute of Technology. FIT Aviation has 40 aircraft and has several Seminoles in its inventory. The plane that crashed was built in 2008, according to FAA records obtained by CBS12.
Wreckage on the tarmac, visible to passengers exiting into the PBIA terminal, is minimal as it appears a fire consumed much of the small plane. Part of the fuselage, an engine and a wing are visible, with a yellow tarp draped over the exposed fuselage in one area of wreckage nearest the PBIA terminal. Another bit of wreckage a couple hundred feet away is indistinguishable. Both are covered with fire retardant foam.
The crash site is between the gates of terminals B and C east of the airport's fire station.
CBS12 meteorologist John Matthews reports that gusty winds in the region today had actually subsided somewhat at the time of the crash.
A Piper Seminole is a twin engine, 4-seat propeller-driven plane. FIT Aviation on its website says the plane is used to train pilots for general and commercial aviation.
The last deadly crash at PBIA was in 1999. Eight people died when a small plane crashed short of the runway.
Flights at PBIA continued after the crash Thursday night with few or no delays.
One survivor has been transported to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Four people were reported to be on board the Piper Seminole PA-44 airplane that crashed during takeoff shortly after 6 PM. The plane was reportedly en route to Melbourne.
Fire officials have confirmed that three people are dead in the crash and the survivor was in critical condition. A West Palm Beach Fire-Rescue batallion chief said the plane had been cleared for takeoff. It appears the plane had begun its takeoff and gained some altitude when a problem developed.
Neither the airport nor the FAA could immediately identify the pilot or the passengers. Records show the plane was owned by FIT Aviation LLC, a Melbourne flight school owned by Florida Institute of Technology. FIT Aviation has 40 aircraft and has several Seminoles in its inventory. The plane that crashed was built in 2008, according to FAA records obtained by CBS12.
Wreckage on the tarmac, visible to passengers exiting into the PBIA terminal, is minimal as it appears a fire consumed much of the small plane. Part of the fuselage, an engine and a wing are visible, with a yellow tarp draped over the exposed fuselage in one area of wreckage nearest the PBIA terminal. Another bit of wreckage a couple hundred feet away is indistinguishable. Both are covered with fire retardant foam.
The crash site is between the gates of terminals B and C east of the airport's fire station.
CBS12 meteorologist John Matthews reports that gusty winds in the region today had actually subsided somewhat at the time of the crash.
A Piper Seminole is a twin engine, 4-seat propeller-driven plane. FIT Aviation on its website says the plane is used to train pilots for general and commercial aviation.
The last deadly crash at PBIA was in 1999. Eight people died when a small plane crashed short of the runway.
Flights at PBIA continued after the crash Thursday night with few or no delays.