Four hospitalized after small plane crashes in Florida neighborhood

Thursday 17 July 2025 - 09:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Four hospitalized after small plane crashes in Florida neighborhood

Four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries following the crash of a small plane into a neighborhood in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Sunday evening. Officials report that the incident occurred near Southwest 14th Street and 68th Boulevard, just west of North Perry Airport.

Plane crashes short of runway

The Pembroke Pines Police Department revealed that the Cessna T337G, based out of North Perry Airport, crashed into a tree approximately one mile from the runway. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the plane was approaching the airport after a flight from Turks and Caicos when, for reasons yet unknown, it went down.

All four individuals on board—one pilot and three passengers—were safely removed from the plane. Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue confirmed that the victims were transported to Memorial Hospital. One was classified as a Trauma Level 1 patient, while the other three were assessed as Trauma Level 2. Despite the initial concerns, police later confirmed that all sustained only minor injuries.

The NTSB has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Residents describe chaotic scene

Local residents recounted the dramatic moments following the crash. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise followed by a plume of smoke rising into the air.

“I heard a big boom, and then we heard the shhhh—we knew it was a plane,” said Michael Pfefferkorn, a nearby resident. Another neighbor compared the sound to a semi-truck overturning.

Several neighbors sprang into action to assist those trapped in the aircraft. Eddy Crispin, one of the first responders on the scene, described the rescue efforts: “He came with an axe, breaking the windows. We took the father out first, then the two daughters. The mother was trapped at the bottom, so we had to break the lower half of the cockpit. Another neighbor was using a fire extinguisher, and someone else was hosing the plane down with water.”

Mayor demands safety review

Angelo Castillo, the mayor of Pembroke Pines, visited the crash site and expressed frustration over the frequency of such incidents near North Perry Airport.

“Over the last five years, we’ve had over 35 crashes here. The time has run out on our patience,” Castillo stated. He urged the Broward County Commission to investigate safety protocols at the airport, emphasizing the community’s demand for accountability and assurance that residents can feel safe in their neighborhoods.