Passengers killed when small plane crashes in Lake Okeechobee IDed

Twin-engine Piper Aircraft crashes near Pahokee Airport

PAHOKEE, Fla. – Four of the five people who were killed in a small plane crash Friday in Florida's Lake Okeechobee were lawyers from a South Florida law firm.

The Palm Beach Post reported that four of the passengers were attorneys at the Peterson Bernard law firm.

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The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Saturday identified the deceased as Eduardo Mulet, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Eric Peterson, of Lighthouse Point, Florida; Matthew Fiorello, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; Heather Bridwell, of Jupiter, Florida; and Edwin Mortell, of Stuart, Florida.

All but Mulet were attorneys at the firm. Mulet was a licensed commercial pilot.

The twin-engine Piper aircraft went down about 3:30 p.m. Friday about 400 yards from the giant lake's southeast shore, just north of the Pahokee Airport, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials say the plane went down about 400 yards from the giant lake's southeast shore, just north of the Pahokee Airport. Records show the plane had taken off from Sheltair Aviation Services' executive hangar complex at Tampa International Airport. When the plane vanished, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice. 

About three hours after Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office divers and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the Pahokee Marina, five bodies were recovered from the aircraft wreckage. 

A witness told deputies they saw someone swimming away from the wreckage, but authorities haven't found the alleged survivor. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the plane crash. Deputies are investigating the deaths.