The News

 The three people killed when a small plane lost control and crashed onto a busy street in Boca Raton, Florida, were identified by authorities.

Police received a report about a plane "in trouble" and having mechanical issues shortly after taking off from the Boca Raton Airport the morning of April 11. It was in the air for eight to 10 minutes before it crashed and burst into flames at about 10:20 a.m. about a mile from the airport. It crashed near an overpass.

All three on board were killed. Another person, who was driving north on Military Trail in a 2017 Toyota Prius "lost control amidst the fire and crashed into a tree," Boca Raton Police Services Department said in a statement.

The three people who died in the crash were 81-year-old Robert Stark, 54-year-old Stephen Stark and 17-year-old Brooke Stark.

Pablo Tafur, 24, who was driving the Prius, had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The crash came a day after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. Five members of a Spanish family and the pilot all died.

What happened to the plane?

The plane was a twin-engine, six-seater Cessna 310 bound for Tallahassee. According to flight-tracking service FlightRadar 24, a Cessna C310 took off at 10:13 a.m. and circled the airport for several minutes before disappearing from radar over North Military Trail.

It made a series of bizarre loops and witnesses said it was flying dangerously close to the ground before the crash, the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

Kurt Gibson, spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, said it wasn't yet clear what caused the crash or the unconventional flight path after take-off. A full investigation will look into factors such as pilot qualifications, 72-hour history for the pilot, maintenance records, wreckage details and environmental factors, he said.

Crews were able to put out the fire. Roads nearby remained closed overnight.

 Modere, a direct-to-consumer health and wellness brand, has announced it is shutting down after 23 years of operations, thanking its customers for their long-standing support.

After 23 wonderful years of serving our cherished community, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our doors,” the company said in a statement on its website.

“We’re incredibly grateful for your support, trust, and loyalty over the years. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or just discovered us recently, thank you for being a part of our story,” it added.

About the brand

According to the company's profile on its website, “Modere is an omnichannel, consumer products company that develops and markets clean health and wellness products through ecommerce and direct-to-consumer channels.”

“Holistic ‘live clean’ philosophy drives every aspect of the brand, extending beyond its ingredient paradigm to encompass business operations, company culture, community activism, and environmental advocacy. Modere serves a community of over 1 million loyal customers around the world and maintains a presence in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, and India. The company proudly manufactures its products in the USA in its NSF GMP certified facility,” the profile reads.

Why are customers disappointed?

As reported by various online platforms, many customers have expressed their disappointment with Modere's closure after over two decades of operation.

Many people even took to websites like ComplaintsBoard and PissedConsumer to voice their frustrations. One review on ComplaintsBoard read, “I need my money back. How long do I need to wait?” while another on PissedConsumer described the company's customer service as “terrible,” citing delays in order fulfillment and refund processes.

​While there is no official statement from Modere regarding the reasons for its closure, many users on X (formerly Twitter) expressed disbelief and others shared their experiences with company's products.

“So sad to hear Modere is closing. I've been using their products for years. What happened?” one user wrote, while another user mentioned, “I can't believe Modere is shutting down. Their products were a game-changer for me.”