Miami, FL – +Plane Down+ A smal sea plane with 17 sould on board has crashed off the coast of Miami Beach. Divers in the water recoverd six bodier so far.
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U/D: 15:49
Three boats and also divers are in the water with at lease 12 people dead so far.
U/D: 16:52
The Coast Guard says that at least 14 people were killed in the plane crash off Miami Beach and that 20 people were on board.
U/D: 17:32
The Coast Guard says now that 19 of 20 people on board the plane that crashed are confirmed dead.
cnn has some amateur video of the plane going down its shocking, i added some pics of it on the previous link
some pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73036411@N00/show/
19 bodies were found. The plane was carrying two crew members and 18 passengers, including three infants, authorities said
Because of witness reports of an explosion before the propeller-driven plane went down, the FBI sent agents to assist in the investigation, but there was no immediate indication of terrorism or sabotage, said Judy Orihuela, spokeswoman for the FBI’s Miami field office.
“It’s too soon to say whether we are going to get involved,” Orihuela said. “We’re just going to check it out.”
The Coast Guard said the plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members, while the Fire Department said 17 passengers and two crew members were aboard.
Law enforcement officers searched for victims via boats and helicopters and were joined by others in private boats, on Jet Skis and on surfboards.
A witness, Frank Amadeo, told WSVN-TV that he saw a huge explosion in the sky and the plane fall behind a condominium tower on Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach.
The Coast Guard said the cause of the crash was not immediately known, and it could not confirm whether there had been an explosion. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate.
The Coast Guard says at least 12 people were killed
history on airline
Founded by Arthur “Pappy” Chalk, the airline thrived during Prohibition, taking bootleggers, their customers and customs agents to Bimini.
One of its planes was hijacked to Cuba in 1974 and the company has since had a policy of not carrying enough fuel to get to Havana.
Two years later, the airline was sold to Resorts International, which owned properties on Paradise Island. Donald Trump bought it in 1988 and sold it a few months later to Merv Griffin. The owner as of 1995 was Seth Atwood of United Capital Corporation of Illinois/Atwood Enterprises.
According to FlightSafe Consultants’ Airline Safety Web site, Chalk’s has had no known fatal accidents. Similarly, the NTSB database shows no fatal accidents for Chalk’s since 1982, when the database started.
The airline had no comment after the crash
UPDATES with at least six reported dead
A propeller plane carrying at least 19 people crashed Monday off Miami Beach, and at least two people were killed, authorities said.
The Chalk’s Ocean Airways plane went down shortly before 3 p.m.
“We’re still trying to get people out of the water,” said Javier Otero, Miami Beach Fire Department support services chief.
He said two people were confirmed dead.
Otero said the plane was one that regularly flies to and from the Bahamas, but he did not immediately know whether the aircraft was incoming or outgoing.
TV helicopter footage showed debris in Government Cut, the channel that ships take past South Beach into the Port of Miami.
Law enforcement officers searched via boats and helicopters and were joined by others in private boats, on Jet Skis and on surfboards.
Chalk’s Ocean Airways was founded in 1919. Its floating planes take off in the water. Chalk’s aircraft have been featured in TV shows such as “Miami Vice.”
Small plane down off South Miami Beach. Debris field ‘covers miles’.
Possible Clalks sea plane. Live helio video on local stations. Fuel slick on water. Divers in the water checking. USCG reports up to 16 passengers poss; 6 bodies recovered so far.