Plane Crashes into FL Grocery Store

A single-engine experimental plane crashed into a Florida grocery store after takeoff on Monday.

The plane collided into a Publix supermarket and sent a ball of fire through the store. A shopper in the store estimated there were about 100 people inside at the time of the crash, MSNBC reports.

By the time emergency crews arrived, smoke was billowing from the grocery chain. Three shoppers along with the plane's pilot and passenger suffered burn injuries and were sent to the hospital.

Details on the crash have been sparse, but the eye witness accounts released so far are chilling to say the least.

Calls to 911 indicate the plane had trouble prior to the crash. The scene inside the store was chaotic with shoppers screaming and running for the exit, witnesses said.

When part of the store's ceiling collapsed, flames were propelled towards the entrance way. "There was just pure," a shopper inside the store at the time of the crash said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. The identities of the pilot and passenger, who were listed in critical condition, have not yet been released.

No word yet on whether any of the victims will be taking any legal action as a result of the accident. Though if they did, they'd probably be able to build a good case for negligence if it's discovered that the pilot was responsible for the crash.

In a case like this, proving fault would likely be the key to winning any negligence-based lawsuit by the victims if they chose to file one against the pilot.

As stated earlier, there aren't any concrete reports indicating if the crash was a result of pilot error or mechanical failure. Either way though, a successful negligence lawsuit against the pilot would require the victims to show that the pilot ultimately failed to keep the plane afloat.

Hopefully everyone injured in this tragic Florida grocery store plane crash will make a full recovery.

Related Resources:

• Plane Hits DeLand Publix (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
• Proving Fault: What Is Negligence (FindLaw)
• Elements Of A Negligence Case (FindLaw)