UPDATE: Destin plane crash wreckage located
UPDATE: August 3, 2016 3:15 p.m.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office says it has located the wreckage from Tuesday night's plane crash off the coast of Destin which killed the pilot.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and OCSO's Marine Unit found the plane, a 414LLC Twin Cessna, about a mile off the coast in 55 feet of water.
Marine units and a Sea Tow diver found it after an FWC helicopter spotted a sheen from the crash in the area.
Al Habetz, 63, of Crowley, Louisiana, was killed in the crash. It happened around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, shortly after Habetz had taken off from the Destin airport. His body was recovered Tuesday evening by search and rescue crews.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation into the crash.
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UPDATE August 3, 2016 6:30 a.m
Authorities have identified the pilot who was killed when a small airplane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Officials say Al Habetz, 63, of Louisiana took off in a twin engine, eight-seat Cessna from the Destin Executive Airport and went down in the water a few minutes later.
The Coast Guard confirmed the body crews recovered Tuesday night is Habetz. Right no investigators do not believe anyone was on board at the time of the crash.
Investigators believe he had flown to the airport earlier Tuesday, dropped passengers off, and was returning to Louisiana when the plane crashed.
After multiple reports of seeing a plane crash in to the water and hearing the impact, a multi-agency search lead to the recovery of Habetz's body by the Coast Guard.
Authorities have marked the site and will return to the scene this morning where they believe a large part of the plane is located underwater.
The National Transportation Safety Board is now taking over the investigation into the cause of the crash.
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UPDATE: August 2, 2016 11:05 p.m.
The Coast Guard has recovered a man’s body following the crash of a small aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico offshore of Destin around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Coast Guard, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission launched boats to begin a search after multiple 911 calls were received about an aircraft hitting the water.
Investigators are working to confirm the identity of the man, believed to be the pilot of the aircraft. The plane’s wreckage had not been positively located as of 10:50 p.m. Initial indications are the plane had left the Destin Airport prior to the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash.
The identity of the victim has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
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UPDATE: August 2, 9:45 p.m.:
An eyewitness tells WJHG/WECP that a twin-engine plane flew south over the condo where they were staying, banked right and went down into the Gulf of Mexico. The witness says police have confirmed that they've found the plane.
The witness also tells WJHG/WECP it looks like six Coast Guard boats are operating about 300 yards off the coast.
We have a reporter in route and will bring you more information as we get it.
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ORIGINAL STORY: August 2, 9:40 p.m.
The Coast Guard is searching the waters off the coast of Destin following multiple reports to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office by witnesses who say a plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico around 8:30 Tuesday night.
Witnesses say they saw a plane go down in the area behind Silver Beach Towers and the Breakers Condominiums at least a half mile or more from the shoreline.
First responders, including OCSO, are on the scene and are asking individuals to stay off the beach in that area in case debris should begin washing ashore.
The type of plane involved, the number of people on board and any injuries aren't known as of 9:40 p.m.
Additional details will be released as they become available.
