Plane crashes into water off Haulover Beach

No injuries reported

HAULOVER BEACH, Fla. – A plane crashed into the water late Tuesday just off Haulover Beach.

WPLG-TV's helicopter was above the Haulover Beach Inlet shortly just before noon as a Coast Guard boat and several Miami-Dade Fire Rescue boats and vehicles were in the area. Authorities were also seen speaking to witnesses about what happened.

Recommended Videos



A man who witnessed the crash, Hardy Sides, said that the plane nose-dived into the water.

A Fire Rescue representative said two people were onboard the Piper PA 28, but no one was injured in the crash.

They were checked out by paramedics on scene and were not taken to a hospital.

The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement shortly after the crash and said that the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 8 miles east of Opa-locka at 11:47 a.m.

"The FAA will investigate and the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause," the statement said.

A woman at the beach told Local 10 News reporter Ben Kennedy that the pilot told her grandmother that he pressed a wrong button and the plane plummeted toward the ocean.

"I've never seen something like this in my life. The thing just crashed down from the sky. It was scary," Stephanie said. "They said they just pushed the wrong button, the plane fell in and then they jumped out and the lifeguard saw them."

According to Stephanie, the pilot and passenger swam to shore as lifeguards jumped in the water to help them.

"They got out of the plane, they started swimming and we saw them on shore, like catching their breath," Stephanie said.

Stephanie said the pilot and passenger seemed scared, but were otherwise OK.

The single-engine plane is registered to Growl Inc. in Merritt Island. 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.