MIAMI — A single-engine Cessna with three people aboard crash-landed on a bridge Saturday near Miami, striking an SUV with three people inside.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 172 lost power around 1 p.m. after departing Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale International Airport bound for Key West. The plane attempted to land on the Haulover Inlet bridge and hit an SUV head-on. The plane then flipped and burst into flames, according to The Miami Herald.
Plane just hit haulover bridge😯 #haulover #balharbor #sunnyisles #bridge #miami pic.twitter.com/pjMONpcJyY
— mike hawk (@finx159) May 14, 2022
Narciso Torres, who was in the plane, died in the crash, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association told the Herald. Torres was a Miami International Airport traffic controller who had worked with the FAA for over a decade.
“This is a terrible tragedy that has sent shock waves throughout our NATCA family,” NATCA President Rich Santa said in a statement.
We are sad to report the passing of veteran ATCT MIA controller & devoted Union member Narciso Torres who served as FacRep at MIA since Oct. 1, 2019. NATCA President Rich Santa said, “This is a terrible tragedy that has sent shock waves throughout NATCA." https://t.co/PJEyLckLtA pic.twitter.com/bdsv1D0nqP
— NATCA (@NATCA) May 14, 2022
The remaining two people aboard the plane were taken to a trauma center, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
2 people that were onboard the plane suffered traumatic injuries & were transported to local trauma centers. An additional 3 patients suffered non-life threatening injuries & were taken to a local area hospital. Additional patient info is being handled by @MiamiDadePD. (3/3)
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) May 14, 2022
The occupants of the SUV, a woman and two children, escaped the crash without serious injuries, according to the Herald.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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