Maurice Mark, 29, is relearning how to trust and use his body again. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Life is different now for the Boynton Beach native.You may remember WPBF 25’s story on Mark from February 2025, as he worked toward his private pilot license on the same airfield in Boca Raton where a set of Black pilots trained during World War II.Some of them would eventually become Tuskegee Airmen. A few months later, Mark earned his private pilot license on Juneteenth.Two months after that, following a ground lesson at Lynn University, Mark was in a crash while riding his motorcycle in West Palm Beach. “The last thing I remember is I was tucked down, and I was on a bike,” he said. “Waking up laying in a hospital bed and looking at all my loved ones. You know your body better than anybody else.” Mark said. “I knew my arm was gone.”The pilot was at St. Mary’s Medical Center for nearly a month. He had multiple blood transfusions to keep him alive and endured nine operations — seven for his arm alone.Yet his career did not end.”When I woke up, immediately the surgeons told me, ‘You can still fly, man.'” Mark said. “That’s like the very first thing I heard.”Mark said once he learned he could still be a pilot, during that moment, he no longer felt any pain. “All I just imagined for like a split second was being in the cockpit again,” he said.After being cleared by a doctor and rigorous occupational and physical therapy at Pinecrest at Delray Medical Center, with an unwavering support system in his friends and family, his vision came to life. Mark took off and flew again at Lynn University in December. On his first ride back to the sky, Mark was joined by his flight instructor and best friend since middle school, Joseph Albergo.”We were so competitive, but when we got on the same team together, it was basically us against everybody else,” Albergo said.Albergo continues to motivate Mark, even finding new video game controllers for them to keep up their tradition of playing together.Dr. Faris Azar, director of trauma services at St. Mary’s, helped get Mark back in the cockpit,”Maurice was definitely one of the most memorable cases of 2025,” Azar said. “We do what we do, but we don’t have good outcomes if the patients don’t put in their work. And he’s not only put in the work, but he’s gone above and beyond.”Azar connected Mark with Hanger Clinic, where experts in West Palm Beach are developing his electronic prosthetic arm. “The muscles he has in his shoulders, he’ll be able to flex them,” Hanger Clini prosthetist orthotist Benjamin Horrell said. “The different muscles that he flexes will control his devices.”Mark served in the U.S. Army for four years prior to attending Lynn University. His prosthetic arm will be custom-fit for flying and reaching controls and will be completely covered by Veterans Affairs.As an inspiration, Hanger introduced Mark to the story of one of its long-term patients, Zack Anglin. Anglin is the first quad amputee licensed to be a commercial pilot flight instructor in the world. Mark is eager to get back into Lynn University’s aeronautics program to eventually learn how to fly commercial flights.Bob Steffy, Mark’s primary instructor at the school, said the crash has not changed Mark’s heart or passion.”The first time I went to visit him was three days post-accident. He was still a little messed up,” Steffy said.” He looked at me and said, ‘Hey Bob, what homework do I have to do?'”Steffy says there will be a lot of paperwork and government tests he will have to walk Mark through in the future, but it’s worth it.”The fact that it’s still possible by him not giving up on himself is inspirational,” Steffy said. Mark says it’s his destiny. “I was born to fly, that’s how I feel about it.” Mark said. “So, why would I let anything stop me?”Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. —
Maurice Mark, 29, is relearning how to trust and use his body again.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Life is different now for the Boynton Beach native.
You may remember WPBF 25’s story on Mark from February 2025, as he worked toward his private pilot license on the same airfield in Boca Raton where a set of Black pilots trained during World War II.
Some of them would eventually become Tuskegee Airmen.
A few months later, Mark earned his private pilot license on Juneteenth.
Two months after that, following a ground lesson at Lynn University, Mark was in a crash while riding his motorcycle in West Palm Beach.
“The last thing I remember is I was tucked down, and I was on a bike,” he said.
“Waking up laying in a hospital bed and looking at all my loved ones. You know your body better than anybody else.” Mark said. “I knew my arm was gone.”
The pilot was at St. Mary’s Medical Center for nearly a month. He had multiple blood transfusions to keep him alive and endured nine operations — seven for his arm alone.
Yet his career did not end.
“When I woke up, immediately the surgeons told me, ‘You can still fly, man.'” Mark said. “That’s like the very first thing I heard.”
Mark said once he learned he could still be a pilot, during that moment, he no longer felt any pain.
“All I just imagined for like a split second was being in the cockpit again,” he said.
After being cleared by a doctor and rigorous occupational and physical therapy at Pinecrest at Delray Medical Center, with an unwavering support system in his friends and family, his vision came to life.
Mark took off and flew again at Lynn University in December.
On his first ride back to the sky, Mark was joined by his flight instructor and best friend since middle school, Joseph Albergo.
Maurice Mark
Flight instructor Bob Steffy, pilot Maurice Mark, and Joseph Albergo aboard an aircraft in Dec. 2025
“We were so competitive, but when we got on the same team together, it was basically us against everybody else,” Albergo said.
Albergo continues to motivate Mark, even finding new video game controllers for them to keep up their tradition of playing together.
Dr. Faris Azar, director of trauma services at St. Mary’s, helped get Mark back in the cockpit,
“Maurice was definitely one of the most memorable cases of 2025,” Azar said. “We do what we do, but we don’t have good outcomes if the patients don’t put in their work. And he’s not only put in the work, but he’s gone above and beyond.”
Azar connected Mark with Hanger Clinic, where experts in West Palm Beach are developing his electronic prosthetic arm.
“The muscles he has in his shoulders, he’ll be able to flex them,” Hanger Clini prosthetist orthotist Benjamin Horrell said. “The different muscles that he flexes will control his devices.”
Mark served in the U.S. Army for four years prior to attending Lynn University.
His prosthetic arm will be custom-fit for flying and reaching controls and will be completely covered by Veterans Affairs.
As an inspiration, Hanger introduced Mark to the story of one of its long-term patients, Zack Anglin.
Anglin is the first quad amputee licensed to be a commercial pilot flight instructor in the world.
Hanger Clinic
Maurice Mark at a sushi event for people with upper-hand differences in Jan. 2025
Mark is eager to get back into Lynn University’s aeronautics program to eventually learn how to fly commercial flights.
Bob Steffy, Mark’s primary instructor at the school, said the crash has not changed Mark’s heart or passion.
“The first time I went to visit him was three days post-accident. He was still a little messed up,” Steffy said.” He looked at me and said, ‘Hey Bob, what homework do I have to do?'”
Steffy says there will be a lot of paperwork and government tests he will have to walk Mark through in the future, but it’s worth it.
“The fact that it’s still possible by him not giving up on himself is inspirational,” Steffy said.
Mark says it’s his destiny.
“I was born to fly, that’s how I feel about it.” Mark said. “So, why would I let anything stop me?”
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.