Tragedy struck the skies above the Florida Everglades as two men lost their lives in a small plane crash near Broward County, authorities discovered yesterday. The single-engine Cessna, which officials believe took off from North Perry Airport on Tuesday evening, met its demise after disappearing from radar shortly after takeoff.
The grim discovery was made north of Interstate 75 near mile marker 28, close to Weston, where aerial footage showed the scattered wreckage amidst the swampy wilderness. On the scene, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue confirmed the fatalities, stating that the identities of the men, found amidst the debris, have not been released, as reported by NBC Miami.
Authorities did not receive any calls regarding the crash until the next morning, leading to a delayed response. "They were beyond help at this point in time," Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane told NBC Miami, regarding the delayed discovery of the crash site. He suggested the possibility that the plane may have been aloft for upwards of 16 to 18 hours before the wreckage was located.
The accident is currently under the scrutiny of both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to ascertain its cause. The crash ignited a small brush fire, which was quickly extinguished by the responding crew. In the statement obtained by U.S. News, officials concluded the fire resulted from the plane's fuel after the aircraft went down.
