ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A man and his 9-year-old daughter were injured Friday evening when a small plane plunged into Lake Down near Windermere, Orange County Fire Rescue said.
The Piper PA-32 plane, which departed from Orlando Executive Airport, plunged into the lake shortly before 6:15 p.m., officials said.
The man was brought to Orlando Regional Medical Center, and his daughter was brought to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Their conditions weren't known, officials said.
Raw: Skywitness 9 over Lake Down plane crash
Neither person was publicly identified.
Two boaters were credited with rescuing the man and his daughter. Austin Keaton and João Pacheco said they immediately jumped into action to help them.
“When it started going down lower, we were, like, that doesn't look right, so we turned the boat around to boat over to them if they crashed,” Keaton said. “All he was concerned about was his daughter. 'Get her on board. Get her on board.' That's all he cared about.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said it received reports of engine problems from the plane before it crashed.
“It's just one of those things you'll never think you'll see until it happens,” Pacheco said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Cox Media Group
