airboat saves ditched aircraft crew
Posted: 28 July 2011
By: Liz Flynn
PAHOKEE, Fla. – A student pilot and an instructor are recovering after their plane landed upside down in Lake Okeechobee.
The single engine plane ended up upside down in the water, not far from Glades Airport Thursday afternoon.
upside-down in the water
The plane landed on a sandbar, which kept it from sinking.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue used an airboat to reach the pilot and student. They say both are very fortunate.
“It appears they had an engine stall or something, some type of engine problem while doing “touch and gos” at the Pahokee airport,” said Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Chuck Lupo. “From what it sounds, they did everything textbook. It’s evident. They’re walking away.”
Lupo said one person was taken to the hospital to be checked out for minor injuries. It’s unclear at this point who was flying the plane. The FAA is investigating.
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