Authorities have identified the three victims who died when a Cessna 310R crashed near Boca Raton Airport on Friday morning, erupting into flames and striking a passing vehicle.

Brooke Stark, 17, along with her aviator father Stephen Stark, 54, and fellow flight enthusiast grandfather Robert Stark, 81 — all residents of Palm Beach County — died in the crash, according to the Boca Raton Police Services Department. 

The twin-engine plane had departed Boca Raton shortly before 10 am for a scheduled flight to Tallahassee. 

Moments after takeoff, the aircraft began experiencing mechanical trouble, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.

Around 10:17 am, the plane veered off course and failed to reach the runway. 

It crashed on North Military Trail near the Glades Road overpass, slamming into a 2017 Toyota Prius before bursting into a massive fireball.

The car’s driver, 24-year-old Pablo Tafur, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after losing control and crashing into a tree due to the collision impact.

Aerial footage showed wreckage engulfed in flames and thick smoke rising from the site as first responders rushed to extinguish the fire. 

Brooke Stark, 17, was one of the deceased in the Boca Raton plane crash Friday morning

Stephen Stark, 54, was another one of the victim’s and the father of Brooke, who also died in the crash

Bob Stark, 81, father of Stephen Stark, also died in the plane crash

Two bodies were seen inside the smoldering debris before officials confirmed all three occupants aboard the aircraft had died.

The Boca Raton Police Department have since confirmed that both Robert and Stephen Stark were licensed pilots. 

Robert held a private pilot certificate since 2018 with single-engine sea and land ratings, as well as multi-engine and instrument certifications. 

Stephen received his private pilot license in 2011 and had multi-engine and single-engine qualifications. 

However, it remains unknown who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the accident. 

A preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks.

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer released a statement expressing condolences: ‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community.

The smoldering wreckage of a Cessna plane is seen after a crash in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday that killed all three people on board 

Residents of the area have been sharing images of the cloud of smoke coming from a plane crash in Boca Raton, Florida

‘At this time, details are still emerging, and we are working closely with emergency responders and authorities. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event.’

Witnesses in the area described the crash as loud and violent, with one person writing on social media, ‘Shook the whole building. Unfortunately I’m certain lives were lost here today.’

Another bystander, Lorenzo Echeverria, posted that he noticed a low-flying propeller plane behaving erratically on the flight tracking website Flightradar24 just before the impact.

As of Saturday, police said road closures in the crash area remain in place while investigators continue their work. 

The accident has drawn comparisons to other recent aviation tragedies, including a deadly helicopter crash in New York City that killed a Spanish family the day prior.

Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive from Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their two young daughters aged four, five, as well as their 11 year-old son, were killed when their sightseeing chopper plummeted into the Hudson River on Thursday. 

The 36-year-old pilot, who has not been named, was also killed.