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Small Plane Crashes Off Florida Coast After Losing Communication Small Plane Crashes Off Florida Coast After Losing Communication
(30 minutes later)
A Cessna plane bound for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport crashed Friday evening more than 300 miles off the coast of Florida after air traffic controllers lost communication with the plane and it was approached by fighter jets, the authorities said. A Cessna plane bound for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport crashed Friday evening more than 300 miles off the coast of Florida after air traffic controllers lost communication with the plane and fighter jets were sent to investigate, the authorities said.
The pilot of the Cessna Citation V is believed to be the only person who was on the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The F.A.A. said air traffic controllers had been unable to communicate with the plane, which left from St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton, Ill. around 3:30 p.m., for more than one hour.The pilot of the Cessna Citation V is believed to be the only person who was on the plane, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The F.A.A. said air traffic controllers had been unable to communicate with the plane, which left from St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton, Ill. around 3:30 p.m., for more than one hour.
Around 4:50 p.m., the Florida Air National Guard sent two F-15’s from the Homestead Air Reserve Base to investigate the unresponsive plane, which was not on its designated flight path, said Maj. Mark R. Lazane, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as Norad.Around 4:50 p.m., the Florida Air National Guard sent two F-15’s from the Homestead Air Reserve Base to investigate the unresponsive plane, which was not on its designated flight path, said Maj. Mark R. Lazane, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as Norad.
The fighter jets approached the Cessna, after which the Cessna began “rapidly descending and subsequently crashed” into the water around 6 p.m. The fighter jets approached the Cessna, after which the Cessna began “rapidly descending and subsequently crashed” into the Atlantic Ocean around 6 p.m.
Major Lazane said the fighter jets did not fire upon the Cessna.Major Lazane said the fighter jets did not fire upon the Cessna.
“The intent of military intercepts is to have the identified aircraft re-establish communications with local F.A.A. air traffic controllers and instruct the pilot to follow air traffic controller directions to land safely for follow-on action,” Major Lazane said in a statement.“The intent of military intercepts is to have the identified aircraft re-establish communications with local F.A.A. air traffic controllers and instruct the pilot to follow air traffic controller directions to land safely for follow-on action,” Major Lazane said in a statement.
The pilot’s name was not immediately released.The pilot’s name was not immediately released.
Major Lazane said that Norad had conducted more than 1,900 “intercepts of nonmilitary aircraft” since Sept. 11, when Norad ramped up air defenses.Major Lazane said that Norad had conducted more than 1,900 “intercepts of nonmilitary aircraft” since Sept. 11, when Norad ramped up air defenses.
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