S. Florida Families Mourn Loss Of Men Killed In French Plane Crash

BOCA RATON (CBS4) - French officials are investigating a plane crash that left three people, including two South Florida men, dead.

Robert Helton, 24, of Pembroke Pines, and Dale Popik, 60, of Delray Beach were among the three victims killed in a plane crash at Le Castellet Airport in southern France on Friday.

"The guy never had a bad word to say about anyone, about anything," Jack Levy said of his friend Popik. "He always had a smile on his face. He was always an up person, him and his wife. They were wonderful people."

Levy said Popik, a seasoned aviator, flew for a commercial airline for decades and even retirement couldn't keep him grounded.

"Couldn't get out of aviation," Levy said. "It was the love of his life."

Images from the scene show the Gulfstream G-IV aircraft well off the end of the runway. The cockpit was destroyed. Witnesses said the plane was moving fast when it touched down and they saw smoke when it came to rest in a patch of trees.

A third crew member, a woman, also died.

An investigation is underway to determine what went wrong, but Levy said Popik's experience should not have been an issue.

"He flew every kind of aircraft," Levy said. "The guy just knew what he was doing."

Boca Raton based Universal Jet Aviation confirmed the plane involved in the crash was part of its fleet.

"There were no passengers on board the aircraft although the flight crew was lost," Universal Jet Aviation Executive Charter Sales representative Christopher Smith said in a statement. "We are cooperating with all investigative agencies. Our focus at this time is supporting the needs of the crew and their families."

CBS 4 News reached out to Robert Helton's family. While they confirm it was their son involved in the crash, Robert's father Michael Helton declined further comment until he finds out exactly what happened.