Two aircraft collided west of Boca
Raton, Florida, on Friday, sending one
crashing into the grounds of a gated golf
course community. At least three
people were confirmed dead, according
to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's
Department.
No injuries on the ground were
immediately reported, according to
police spokesman Paul Miller.
"I heard a big explosion," said Debora Hartman, a witness. "I thought a bomb
had exploded or something and I came running out and I saw a huge fireball
erupt. To the right there was a parachute coming down."
One aircraft was a Lear-55, a twin-engine jet
that can carry up to 13 people, according to
George Prellezo, regional director of the National
Transportation Safety Board. Police said they have
found debris thought to be from the second aircraft, which was so far
unidentified. Early reports say the second aircraft may have been a helicopter.
The crash occurred shortly before noon, 2.5 miles west of Boca Raton Airport.
Local television stations broadcast pictures of that one plane had broken into at
least two parts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.