An airboat outing in Highlands County turned deadly yesterday when the vessel capsized, tossing seven people into the water and setting off a massive search effort. Four people made it to shore alive, two were later found dead and one person remained missing as crews continued to comb the area. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) led the response alongside local rescue teams.
According to the FWC, the airboat had "turned into deeper water from the Istokpoga Canal toward the Kissimmee River," then started taking on water and flipped, throwing everyone on board into the canal, as reported by Tampa Bay 28. Four of the seven people either swam to shore or were helped in by rescuers. The remaining three became the focus of a major search; two of those individuals were later recovered deceased, and crews continued to look for the last missing person. Officials asked anyone with information or video of the incident to contact the FWC Wildlife Alert tip line at MyFWC Wildlife Alert.
Where It Happened
The airboat moved from the Istokpoga Canal toward the Kissimmee River, an area that sits within a managed web of canals and marsh. Water levels and channel depths there do not stay put. The South Florida Water Management District notes that levels and navigable routes in the Kissimmee–Istokpoga system shift with operations and the season, which can affect how small boats move through the area. That layout can leave some spots deceptively shallow while nearby channels drop off quickly, which makes search, rescue and recovery work more complicated for crews in the water.
Airboat Safety And Rules
Airboats are built to skim over shallow, vegetation-choked waters, and state regulators spell out specific rules for how they should be equipped and operated. FWC’s boating regulations detail airboat requirements that include safety gear, visibility flags and accident reporting obligations. The agency also urges riders and operators to wear life jackets and complete a certified boating safety course. Those steps are intended to cut down on swamping, people being thrown from vessels and other common factors in deadly boating crashes in Florida.
Search Effort And What Comes Next
Highlands County deputies, local fire rescue crews and FWC officers typically combine dive teams with air support for water searches, and those resources were deployed at the scene as the search continued. Authorities have not released the names of the victims or described in detail what led up to the capsize. Investigators are expected to build a timeline from survivor accounts and any witness statements as they work to understand exactly what went wrong.
The investigation remains active, and officials say the cause of the capsize is still under review. No additional information about the victims has been made public at this time. This report will be updated as authorities confirm and release further details.
