A crash this tuesday between two planes on a lake in Winter Haven, in central Florida (USA), has left at least two people deadwhile rescue teams continue to search for other occupants of the aircraft in an accident whose causes are still unknownthe authorities reported.
“Right now we are in the middle of a search and rescue operation and two bodies have been recovered“, said Steve Lester, of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where Lake Hartridge is located, in which the planes fell after colliding in the air.
Lester added that several rescue teams went to the scene of the accident and that “There are possibly other deceased”although he cannot confirm this point yet.
One of the planes is completely submerged, some 21 feet (6 meters) under water, while the other is partially sunk.
Law enforcement officials have described the planes as a Piper J-3 Cub flying boat operated by Jack Brown Seaplane Base, Winter Haven, and a Cherokee Piper 161 fixed-wing aircraftoperated by Sunrise Aviation in Ormond Beach, picked up local channel WKMG TV.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that a body was recovered in the waters of the aforementioned lake around 5:30 p.m. local time and another hours later.