ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Two people have been rushed to the hospital after a plane crashed in the woods across from US-1 near the St. Augustine airport Thursday.
The St. Augustine Fire Chief Carlos Aviles confirmed that the plane was on fire at one point. Everyone has been extricated from the plane, he says.
The Florida Highway Patrol says a husband and wife, 61 and 59, are in the hospital with non-life-threatening but 'extensive' injuries. FHP says a dog was transported.
The man was flying the plane, and shortly after take off from the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, the aircraft crashed into a wooded area near US-1 and Avenue B.
Ralph Nuanez, a pilot at the airport, heard the plane crash and saw the fireball from his hangar in the airport.
"Unfortunately, you know, a really bad tragedy here at the airport. But from my understanding maybe miraculous that we have survivors," Nuanez said.
Nuanez said first responders showed up minutes after he saw the fireball.
"Amazing that the first responders it seemed like they were here within two three minutes of the crash that's what I couldn't believe how quickly the response team was. Ambulance, fire trucks, the airport authority, they were right here on it," Nuanez said.
FAA was notified and is investigating.
