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A small plane carrying five people crashed on Interstate 75 near Naples, Fla., on Friday afternoon, exploding in flames and killing two people, according to officials. They said that three of those onboard were able to get out of the plane.

The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 series jet, crashed on the highway around 3:15 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether anyone on the ground was injured.

Preliminary information showed that the plane’s pilot had radioed that the aircraft had had a dual engine failure as it approached Naples Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement on Friday. The agency said it would not comment on the cause of the crash during the early stages of its investigation.

Photos and video footage from the scene showed the aircraft’s fuselage in flames and a large plume of smoke billowing above the crash site.

By The New York Times

The aircraft departed from the Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, said Robin King, the director of communications for Naples Airport.

“They were scheduled to land about 3:15 here in Naples, and about two or three minutes before that, our tower received word from the pilots that they have, quote, lost both engines,” Ms. King said. “We don’t know exactly what that means. We lost contact.”

The plane crashed two to three miles from the airport, Ms. King said. Three of the five people on the airplane were able to get out of the airplane, she added.

An Ohio State University spokesman said that the plane was not affiliated with the university.

Brianna Walker, 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said in an interview on Friday that she was headed home from Fort Myers with her friend’s mother, who was driving southbound on Interstate 75, when they saw the plane crash.

“It looked like it was trying to hit the median,” Ms. Walker said. “It starts sliding across the highway, takes a car with it, the wing comes down, crushes another car and throws it into the median, and then it hits the concrete and immediately burst into flames.”

Ms. Walker took two videos of the crash, which she shared on social media. In one, the plane bursts into flames, and it appears as if someone was trying to flee the crash. In the immediate, chaotic, aftermath of the crash, Ms. Walker said, she struggled to tell whether people were able to get out of the plane.

Ms. Walker said that she and her friend’s mother feared that the plane would explode, so her friend’s mother drove onto the median to move around the plane.

“I said, ‘You have to drive now. It’s now or never,’” Ms. Walker said. “We just booked it.”

A six-mile stretch of the Interstate 75 will be closed for at least 24 hours, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, and local officials encouraged people to avoid the area while the F.A.A. and the National Transportation Safety Board investigated. Florida Highway Patrol troopers were also at the scene.

More than two hours after the crash, highway cameras showed dozens of vehicles stuck in traffic, unable to get around several law enforcement vehicles at the scene.

The N.T.S.B. said that “several more” investigators were expected to arrive on Saturday to examine the crash. In its investigation, the agency said it would examine flight track data, aircraft maintenance records and weather reports.

The agency also said that it planned to look into the pilot’s license and flight experience, and anything the pilot did in the 72 hours before the crash that could have affected the pilot’s ability to fly a plane. The agency asked that anyone who witnessed the crash or took video to contact the agency.

The aircraft, which officials said had the registration number N823KD, was scheduled to travel to Fort Lauderdale from Naples on Friday afternoon, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website.

A Challenger 604 with the registration number N823KD is listed as part of a fleet maintained by Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter, a private jet travel company based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The jet can carry up to 12 passengers, according to the company.

Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter confirmed in a statement on Friday that it leased the jet that crashed. The company said that it would help in the investigation and that it would not share the names of those involved in the crash.

“Our immediate concern is for the well-being of our passengers, crew members and their families,” the company said.

Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

A popular East Naples restaurant will transform in a few months.

Effective May 1, Rebecca Maddox is leasing her 360 Market restaurant to Barry and Carolyn Larkin. The Larkins, who own Seventh South Craft Food + Drink, will turn it into Seventh South Waterfront, their second restaurant.

The Larkins aim to open in late summer while keeping their Old Naples restaurant open.

Maddox retains property ownership and continues helming Celebration Park next door. Across the street on Bayshore, she opened Rebecca’s Wine Bar in 2023 and moved the Market’s famous wine store to that location. She also helms The Maddox, a stunning new members-only club within the same complex as Rebecca’s.

Why the change?

As for 360 Market, “It's just time. I didn't realize that for 13 seasons, six days a week, every day from 8 a.m. to whenever we close, I've been here. The time went by quickly. I really love it, but I realized I started it in my late 50s, and now I'm 70,” said Maddox.

For the past six months, Maddox had been talking to various restaurateurs about taking 360’s space. Among the reasons she selected the Larkins? They share a hands-on work ethic similar to hers.

Since Hurricane Ian, the Larkins have faced several unknown factors about their Seventh Avenue restaurant, including possible redevelopment of the whole building where their lease ends in 2025.

The couple are big fans of 360 Market, a frequent lunch haunt for them.

“We talked to Rebecca about our situation. She opened her arms and opened the door to this opportunity. We've always had a great relationship. We felt blessed to be in the conversation with other restaurateurs. For her to choose us and being on Bayshore, it means a lot,” said Barry Larkin.

When Carolyn heard the news, she was excited, describing it as a pinch-me moment.

What to expect

The couple will continue to operate Seventh South.

Carolyn Larkin is tasked with décor renovations, fusing Seventh South’s style with their new waterfront location. That includes a magnificent new large bar, paintings by local artists and other cool accents that define their downtown space.

At the new space, the couple expects to open for lunch and dinner and keep their famous late-night offerings intact.

Not the end of an era

The Larkins and Maddox touted the neighborhood's camaraderie, where myriad offerings give visitors different options.

Arguably the neighborhood’s most famous cheerleader, Maddox said, “Bayshore is really a unique community. Folks might come here for breakfast, then I'll see them on a boat at Celebration Park, then I see them at Rebecca's at night. It's like they go out for every meal, but once they find us here, there's just a client-customer rotation and loyalty that I've never seen in my life. They might go to The Med or Ankrolab, but once they come to Bayshore and experience it, they're very comfortable with that.”

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Maddox describes her time at 360 as “a phenomenal ride,” leaving it with a heavy heart. One way Maddox is thanking her loyal longtime patrons is by resurrecting a deal that originally launched on opening day in 2012: through May 1, she’s offering $3 glasses of wine at 360 Market.

“I will miss this terribly, but I'm also happy that I can play a small part in helping Carolyn and Barry. I think they will contribute as much to Bayshore as I have.”

Take a look: What's happening in March? Here's our events calendar.

5. Laugh along with comedian Kevin Herrera

Comedian Kevin Herrera performs standup March 1-3 at Off The Hook Comedy Club, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, No. 1100. $28 general admission, plus a fee. 7 p.m. offthehookcomedy.com or 239-389-6901.

4. Last call for art fairs

There's two this weekend to check out. The last Bonita Springs National Art Festival of the season is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, at Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, downtown Bonita Springs. Free with suggested $5 donation. 239-495-8989 or artcenterbonita.org/artfest. And Art in the Park, presented by Naples Art Institute, is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 2 at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave South, Naples. Free admission. More at naplesart.org.

3. Free concert March 2 in Naples

Naples Dixieland Jazzmasters perform 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at River Park Community Center 301 11th St. N. Free but donations welcome. naplesjazzsociety.com

2. Rum tasting at 'First Friday on the Deck'

Caribbean Rum Tasting is at the Estero Historical Society from 4-6 p.m. March 1 as part of a “First Friday on the Deck” fundraiser. 9285 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. $25 for members and $30 for non-members, limited to the first 50 RSVPs. (239) 272-1911 or esterohistoricalsociety.com.

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1. See 'Bus Stop' at The Studio Players

The Studio Players' latest production, "Bus Stop," a drama with romantic and comedic elements, is set in rural Kansas, about 25 miles from Kansas City, Missouri. Shows this weekend are March 1-2, with March 3 sold out. Also see it March 22-23. Tickets $35 online at thestudioplayers.org or 239-398-9192 (no service fees on phone order).

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on X (formerly Twitter) @NDN_dosborn.

Art of Style

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Naples entrepreneur Rebecca Maddox plans to close her Three60 Market on May 1 and allow Seventh South to launch another restaurant and bar at that Bayshore Drive location in East Naples.

Although closing the venue that started her local restaurant ventures, Maddox will remain involved with Celebration Park, Rebecca’s and The Maddox, which she co-owns on Bayshore, as well as her growing brand of Three60 Wine shops. She just needed to “retire” from the hands-on attention she devoted to Three60 Market since launching it 13 years ago.

“The long and the short of it is I was in my 50s, and now I turned 70,” Maddox said. “I can’t believe I did this for 13 years. So, obviously, I must have liked it. But you just know when it’s time, and it’s time.”

Maddox didn’t want to just close May 1 without letting people know they were closing. She wanted to give her loyal customers a chance to say goodbye to Three60 Market, although she really isn’t going anywhere. Maddox will still own the tin-roofed, appletini green building on Haldeman Creek but she won’t be there on a day-to-day basis.

“For me, it’s definitely a sad thing,” she said. “It’s a very emotional thing for all of us because it was kind of a little community hub.”

Maddox will most miss the people, of course. It wasn’t just a casual connection for her. It meant a lot to her to see people change, mature and share life experiences.

“It was just such a family. We just gelled as a family,” she said. “I don’t know if all the customers realize that—I think a lot of them did, which is why they came back all the time.”

Although Three60’s tomato pie and best darn BLT are fan favorites, don’t necessarily expect to see them migrate to Rebecca’s across the street as a regular menu item, although they possibly could be an occasional special.

“Darren (Veilleux) is the culinary director over at the new venue, so he’ll make that decision,” Maddox said. “There’s not a current plan to bring all the stuff over there now.”

For its last two months, though, Three60 Market will offer a special in honor of its longtime guests who have become friends.

“When we opened, we had wines by the glass for $3, and that was a big draw. So, between now and May 1st, every customer who comes in and they want a glass of wine, we’re going to go back to our $3 pricing to tell them thank you.”

While saddened by the life event, Maddox still will be happy to hand over Three60’s keys to Barry and Carolyn Larkin and their team at Seventh South Food + Drink.

“Barry and Carolyn, I think, will do a great job and help Bayshore a lot, and I’d like that to continue,” she said. “But I also would really like to kind of give everybody a hug and tell them thank you.”

The Larkins know firsthand about the family atmosphere at Three60 Market; that’s how they met Maddox.

“We’ve been regular guests of Rebecca’s for years. We’ve loved going to her place,” Larkin said. “My wife and I do lunch dates all the time there with or without the kids. We just became very good friends with Rebecca, and she heard about our story from us, and just said there might be something we could talk about in the future, and we started chatting. So, it developed into a nice relationship with Rebecca. Our kids come into her restaurant, and they run up to her and give her a big hug and she’s open arms, so it’s been a wonderful relationship we’ve developed with Rebecca. And what she’s done for Bayshore is incredible.”

Larkin is excited about the chance to have a restaurant on the water. Seventh South Waterfront will be the second generation of Seventh South Craft Food + Drink, which he has co-owned since 2020 at 849 Seventh Ave. S., making Yelp’s Top 10 restaurant list in Naples.

Seventh South’s restaurant team includes two managing partners: Executive Chef Jay Schrednitz and General Manager Pal Ladanyi. They hope to launch their new location in six months or so.

Interior work will include three major projects: changing the kitchen, building a wall and removing the existing coffee station, which involves plumbing, he said.

“We’re looking to expand the bar. The bar and kitchen are kind of the focus of our restaurant downtown, and that will be the same there as far as the kitchen and bar collaboration. So, keeping that same theme.”

The chef is working on the menu for the waterfront restaurant.

“Our menus are going to be similar, but it won’t be the exact same,” Larkin said. “We don’t do lunches here at the downtown [location], but we’ll definitely be doing lunches, and then brunches on Saturdays and Sundays is our goal. Then, obviously, the dinners.”

Larkin, also the beverage manager and a resident of Naples for more than 30 years, has a resume with impressive local hospitality roles. He was The Continental’s bar manager for four years when the restaurant opened on Third Street South. He also has worked at The Turtle Club for 11 years and Pewter Mug for seven years.

Although the Larkins’ goal is to continue operating the original location of Seventh South Craft Food + Drink through the 2025 season, the restaurant owners and neighboring commercial tenants know that time is ticking for that Seventh Avenue South building, which eventually will be demolished and redeveloped.

Although the restaurant’s lease at 849 Seventh Ave. S. is up in October 2025, it’s unlikely that the business will complete its lease term. Naples Community Church, which occupies the eastern end of the building, owns the entire building, which it plans to redevelop to expand its sanctuary. The local church has filed plans with the city of Naples to replace the existing building with a new church to expand its space for fellowship, administration and classrooms.

“Right now—and there are several contingencies—we are looking at starting to demolish the building March 1 of 2025. That’s what the schedule shows right now,” said Michael Lyster, president of Naples Community Church’s board of trustees.

Those contingencies include the permitting process, city government approval and the church’s capital campaign for the project. The approval process is expected to take 10 months, Lyster said.

“The big holdup right now will be the capital campaign,” he said.

The church’s redevelopment plans by Naples architect David Corban had their preliminary design review and approval by the city last summer. They still must go before the planning board, City Council and design review board. The restaurant and other tenants have been advised that they will be given a six-month termination notice when the process nears the end.

Built in two phases, the existing building will be demolished in two phases. The western end with the tenants will be demolished first while the church continues to meet in its existing space on the eastern end of the building. After the new fellowship hall, fellowship court, kitchen and offices are built, the church’s congregation temporarily will have services in the new fellowship hall while the existing church is demolished and a new sanctuary is built in the second phase, Lyster said.

Founded in 2006, the nondenominational Naples Community Church moved to its current space in 2009 after holding services in different locations, including a local bank and Naples High School. In 2012, the growing church purchased the Seventh Avenue South building, which originally was a furniture store. The church purchased a lot nearby on Sixth Avenue South in 2021 to provide additional parking.

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