A busy shopping day at a Publix store was violently interrupted when a plane crashed through the roof of the store Monday. So far, though, it appears no one was killed.

The Publix is at the Northgate Shopping Center is on East International Speedway Boulevard, about a mile from DeLand Airport.

Reporter Saul Saenz says a total of five people were hurt, three were seriously hurt, according to emergency crews. Two of those seriously hurt people were inside the plane. Saenz says no fatalities have been reported.

Sgt. Chris Estes with DeLand Police says three people with serious burns were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, the other two people were taken to Florida Hospital DeLand.

Officials have identified three of the victims:

  • Lisa Cordova and April Morris suffered minor injuries and were treated and released from Florida Hospital.
  • Brenden Beitler, 20, was taken with serious burns to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Estes says this was a single-engine experimental amphibious plane which had taken off, had an issue and crashed.  The plane is on the ground inside the store. The structural integrity of the supermarket itself has been compromised, and the roof as well.

Fire crews say they have not been able to get in and verify that every one did, in fact, get out of the store.

At one point, this was considered a three-alarm fire. Fire crews are currently in the mop-up phase.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating this crash.

Stetson University says one student was hurt in the crash. Witnesses say the students legs were severely burned in the fire caused by the crash.

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Witnesses report seeing plane crash

"I was walking back along the back of the store and God was on my left shoulder, God called me over to the left to look at the yogurt and just as I was walking up to the yogurts to look at the yogurt, I heard a loud boom and it sounded like really loud thunder. I happened to look up and all the ceiling tiles just blew out and stuff started flying off the ceiling and I looked to my right and there was a big huge explosion and I heard a man yell 'a plane just crashed into Publix, everybody run,'" described Phyllis Gould.

Randy Felix, who says he was in the Publix at the time of the crash, said he was in the deli section when he heard the rumbling. He said lights then went off, and then a plume of fire pushed to the front of the store. Felix says it affected about five to six aisles, and seemed to happen in the center of the store.

Customers started running to get out. Felix says he saw one customer with his legs badly burned.

Craig Maddox, whose son works at the Publix, told us the small plane crashed through the roof. He said he got his information from one of the Publix managers. He says all of the employees made it out okay.

Darlene Trezkop, who witnessed the crash, said the plane was flying fast and low when it crashed into the building.

Another witness, Stephen Lloyd, says he and his children saw the plane take off, turned his head for a moment, then heard the plane hit the building and saw the plume of smoke.

Evan Wallace, another witness, says he saw two people coming out of the back of the store on stretchers. He says he was told by Volusia County Sheriff's deputies that they were the pilot and co-pilot.

Pedro Pavel, 11, was outside the store with his mother. He said he heard the plane sputter, and crash into the building. He then felt the ground shake, and feared there would be a bigger explosion. He said his mother kept trying to get him in the car, but he felt paralyzed as he watched people run out of the store.

"There was a zip zoom, like artillery, if you've been on the business-end of that you know what it is," another witness said. "The first thing that came to my mind was terrorism, you know."

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Outside the store

Walt Logan, a Bright House Networks employee, said black smoke can still be seen from the building as late as 8 p.m. The building is part of a strip mall with some small and large businesses. Logan, also tells us that onlookers were pushed back because the gas line to the Publix had not been shut off yet. That gas line has since been turned off.

Stetson University, a large private school in DeLand, is urging its students to stay away from Northgate Shopping Center. Stetson tweeted a statement just before 9 p.m. from Vice-President Chris Kandus:

"Please stay away from Publix crash site to allow emer. crews to work. Reslife and oncall staff are avail. if needed."

  • Check back often for details on this developing story.