Small plane crashes into grocery store
April 4, 2012
On Monday evening an experimental plane crashed into a Publix grocery store at a Florida shopping center, reports MSNBC.com. Five people were injured with burns as fire shot through the roof and the store.
Moments before the plane hit the roof of the supermarket, calls to 911 said that the single-engine plane showed signs of trouble.
The plane had taken off from DeLand Municipal Airport, and then it suffered engine failure.
The crash occurred at about 7:20 p.m. at the Northgate Shopping Center in the 200 block of International Speedway Boulevard, a half-mile from the DeLand Municipal Airport.
“It was horrific,” said a customer. “When I turned around, I saw the ceiling caving in. Once the tiles were down, there was just pure fire, and then the fire was propelled towards the doors almost to the cash registers.”
The injured include three shoppers and the two people on the plane. The plane’s pilot and passenger suffered critical injuries.
A 20-year-old college student who suffered burns was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was in stable condition. Two other shoppers were treated at Florida Hospital DeLand and are expected to be released soon.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Safety Transportation Board have been notified and will be investigating.
Have you or someone you know been injured in a Florida accident?
The South-Florida personal injury lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene may be able to help.