Miramar, FL - A small aircraft made an emergency landing near Coconut Palm Elementary School in Miramar on Wednesday afternoon, coming dangerously close to a playground where children had been playing just moments before.
Authorities say the incident took place shortly after 1 p.m. in a field behind the school along Monarch Lakes Boulevard.
Officials stated that the pilot, accompanied by a student, was flying at around 1,000 feet when the aircraft began experiencing mechanical issues.
Miramar Fire Rescue officials confirmed that as the plane descended, it clipped a fence before skimming between two portable classrooms and ultimately crash-landing in the field.
Despite the damage to the aircraft, both the pilot and student escaped unharmed.
"When they clipped the fence, it altered their trajectory slightly, which may have prevented a direct impact with the portable classrooms," said Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss. "Had the plane continued on its initial course, this situation could have been far worse."
Aerial footage captured by news helicopters showed the aircraft resting just feet away from the school's playground, an area that had been occupied by students only minutes before.
Authorities emphasized that the timing of the crash likely prevented a disaster.
"The real miracle here is that not only were the pilot and student unharmed, but the kids who had been outside playing had just gone inside," Moss stated. "Had they still been out there, this could have been catastrophic."
The school remained fully operational following the incident, and local officials confirmed that it was not placed on lockdown.
Traffic in the surrounding area was also unaffected.
Shortly after the crash, parents received a notification from the school, but some reported not receiving it in time and rushed to the scene out of concern for their children.
"My first thought was, where did it land?" said Luzmary Ocampo, a parent. "Near the cafeteria? In the middle of the school? By the playground? I had no idea."
Another parent, Adrienne Lester, shared similar concerns. "The playground is right there, and kids were just playing there before it happened. It’s scary because you don’t think about how to protect your child from something like this."
Miramar Police responded to the scene, and officials confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would be leading an investigation to determine the exact cause of the emergency landing.
While the investigation remains ongoing, preliminary reports suggest that mechanical failure was a factor.
Authorities credit the pilot’s quick decision-making for preventing what could have been a devastating event.