Lafayette Parish, Louisiana — Tragedy Strikes as Twin-Engine Plane Crash Claims Three Lives Near Gloria Switch Road

Tragedy struck in Lafayette Parish on the morning of Tuesday, October 21, 2025, when a small twin-engine aircraft crashed into an open field near the intersection of Gloria Switch Road and LA Highway 93, claiming the lives of all three people on board. The devastating incident has left the local community reeling, as investigators work to determine what caused the deadly crash that unfolded under clear skies in the heart of southern Louisiana.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, emergency dispatchers received multiple calls around 8:45 a.m. reporting a loud explosion followed by heavy smoke rising from a nearby field. When first responders arrived, they discovered the wreckage of a twin-engine Beechcraft Baron engulfed in flames. Despite immediate rescue efforts by local firefighters and deputies, all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families, but officials have confirmed that the aircraft had departed from Lafayette Regional Airport just minutes before the crash. Preliminary flight data indicates the plane had been en route to Houston, Texas, when it experienced a sudden and catastrophic failure. Witnesses nearby reported hearing sputtering noises before the plane descended sharply.

“I heard the engines cut out, and then it just dropped,” said William Dugas, a local farmer who was working in a nearby field at the time. “There was a loud boom, and within seconds, black smoke started rising. It was something I’ll never forget.”

Emergency crews from Lafayette Fire Department, Acadian Ambulance, and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office quickly secured the area, while the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the crash. NTSB investigators arrived on-site by midafternoon, combing through debris scattered across several hundred yards of open farmland.

In a statement, Sheriff Mark Garber expressed condolences on behalf of the parish, saying,

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the families of those on board and for our community as a whole. We are working closely with federal investigators to determine what went wrong, and we ask everyone to keep the victims’ loved ones in their thoughts and prayers.”

The crash site, located near a cluster of rural homes just north of Lafayette, drew dozens of residents who gathered quietly behind police tape, many visibly emotional as they watched the recovery efforts unfold. “You could feel the sorrow in the air,” said local resident Linda Broussard, who lives less than a mile from the scene. “It’s something you pray you never see happen so close to home.”

This is not the first time the Lafayette area has been touched by aviation tragedy. The region’s open fields and proximity to small private airports have historically made it a corridor for general aviation traffic. However, fatal crashes remain rare, and officials emphasized that the ongoing investigation will be thorough and transparent.

NTSB spokesperson Katherine Delaney stated that investigators will examine multiple factors, including weather conditions, engine performance, maintenance records, and potential pilot distress calls. The wreckage will be transported to a secure facility for further analysis. A preliminary report is expected within two weeks, though a final determination may take several months.

As word of the crash spread, condolences poured in across Lafayette Parish, with community members, local clergy, and civic leaders offering prayers for the victims and their families. Churches in the area have announced plans for prayer vigils and memorial gatherings later in the week.

“This is a time for unity and compassion,” said Pastor Andre LeBlanc of Gloria Switch Baptist Church. “Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones today. We may not know their names yet, but they were someone’s family — someone’s friend. We stand with them in spirit and prayer.”

Residents have since placed flowers and small crosses near the crash site, turning the once-quiet field into a growing memorial of grief and remembrance.

As investigators continue their work, Lafayette Parish mourns deeply — not just for the three lives lost, but for the families forever changed in an instant.

“It’s one of those tragedies that stops everything,” said one neighbor softly. “You just hug your family a little tighter tonight.”

Funeral arrangements for the victims will be announced once identifications are made and families have been notified.

For now, the people of Lafayette Parish stand united — hearts heavy, prayers lifted — in the wake of a tragedy that reminds all of life’s fragility and the strength found in community during its darkest hours.