Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Seaplane Crashes In Miami Beach Florida

A propeller-driven seaplane carrying 20 people crashed just off Miami Beach, killing all 20 of those aboard Scuba divers and rescuers in speedboats struggled to reach the victims, but as evening fell, they found no sign that anyone had survived.
The Chalk's Ocean Airways plane went down around 2:30 p-m Eastern time after taking off from Miami for the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. Amateur video showed the main part of the aircraft slamming into the water followed by a flaming object trailing thick black smoke.
The Coast Guard says 19 bodies were found. The 1940s-era plane was carrying two crew members and 18 passengers, including three infants. Because of witness reports of an explosion, the FBI sent agents to assist in the investigation.