One dead after small plane crashes near Miami airport
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}At least one is dead after a small plane crashed near Miami Executive Airport Sunday. (WSVN 7 News)
The pilot of a small plane was killed after the aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Miami Executive Airport Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement confirming a Piper PA 60 crashed about a mile and a half west of the airport, just before 3 p.m.
The statement reads, “The pilot departed from Miami Executive and was returning to the airport after declaring an emergency.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Radio traffic captures audio of the pilot moments before impact. “Declaring an emergency, declaring an emergency,” he is heard saying.
According to Miami-Dade Police, the aircraft went down near Southwest 157th Avenue and 120th Street, killing the pilot.
“I look back, and it was just — he was gone,” said witness Andy Fuentes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}When paramedics arrived, there was nothing they could do.