1 day ago
The aircraft, a single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk, had departed from Flagler Executive Airport in Palm Coast shortly before 7 PM (local time) and was scheduled to land in Vero Beach around 8:30 PM (local time), according to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Indian River County Sheriff's Office.
The plane lost contact with the about a mile from the shoreline.(Photo Credit: WPBF)
UPDATED: Jun 3, 2025 03:51 IST
Three people were rescued after a small plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near South Beach Park in Vero Beach, Florida, on Sunday night. The incident occurred just a few miles off the coast. A large-scale multi-agency rescue operation is underway.
The aircraft, a single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk, had departed from Flagler Executive Airport in Palm Coast shortly before 7 PM (local time) and was scheduled to land in Vero Beach around 8:30 PM (local time), according to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 8:24 PM, the pilot issued a distress call due to engine failure while the plane was about four miles offshore. The plane lost contact with the about a mile from the shoreline.
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Capt. Joe Abollo confirmed the crash location as between 1 and 4 miles off the coast. The US Coast Guard reported that the three individuals -- the pilot and two passengers -- were found around 2 miles offshore by 8:45 PM. The heat signatures detected by a sheriff’s department helicopter helped to find the survivors.
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Jun 3, 2025
