DeLAND, Fla. – A small plane crashed into a DeLand Publix grocery store Monday night, sending the two people on board and three customers the hospital, according to Volusia County deputies.
Deputies said the single-engine, amphibious plane crashed into a Publix on East International Speedway Boulevard just before 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Witnesses said they saw the plane sputter then crash into the building and burst into flames.
Lisa Cordova said she was thrown to the floor when the plane crashed into the meat department of the Publix.
"It was like something had exploded in the store," Cordova told the Orlando Sentinel after being released from Florida Hospital DeLand. "The roof just started shaking. All the lights went out. Everybody was just screaming."
Two men were on board the plane suffered burns. They were airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center.
"The pilot and co-pilot were both amazingly able to get out of the plane and out of the store," Pat Kuehn of the Volusia County Fire Services said.
Three customers inside the store were injured. Lisa Cordova and April Morris were taken to Florida Hospital in DeLand. The third victim, Brendan Beitler, was taken to ORMC in stable condition.
IMAGES: DeLand resident's photo of crash, aftermath
The plane had just taken off from DeLand Municipal Airport when it crashed. Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson told WKMG-TV he doesn't think the men in the plane were from the area. Even though they suffered burns, they were able to talk to deputies.
When firefighters arrived, smoke was billowing out of the store as hundreds watched outside. About an hour after the crash, seven fire trucks were still on the scene.
People inside the store didn't know what had happened until they made their way through the smoke and got outside, Cordova said.
"The store has suffered heavy damage inside. When firefighters arrived they encountered heavy black smoke and flames and it took over an hour to get the fire under control," Kuehn said.