New video shows rescue after Everglades plane crash

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ Miami-Dade firefighters released new video of a risky rescue out of the Everglades, when a small plane had to make an emergency landing and flipped over in the swamp.

The crash happened Tuesday in far southwestern Miami-Dade County, about nine miles from the closest road.

That meant Miami-Dade Fire Rescue had to send its helicopter to rescue the two victims, who, fortunately, werenā€™t seriously hurt.

Rescuers lowered a seat from the helicopter in order to retrieve the pilot and passenger.

ā€œWe arrived on scene, assessed the scenario (and) saw the survivors out on the wing,ā€ said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Jason Vanbuskirk.

Itā€™s a maneuver firefighters say they only do a few times per year and something that must be done with precision.

ā€œThat process is all about precision. And a lot of that comes between the dialogue between the hoist operator and the pilot,ā€ Vanbuskirk said. ā€œSo theyā€™re in constant communication to move the aircraft over that position. The pilot is blind, is going off the hoist operatorā€™s cadence and voice to (position them) over the aircraft.ā€

MDFR shared with Local 10 News on how they pulled off the risky rescue.

ā€œIt is a very inaccessible area, most of that area is 1-2 feet of water, swamp, vehicles canā€™t get back there,ā€ said Robert Wallis of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Robert Wallis/Miami-Dade Fire Rescue: I can safely say that once theyā€™re pulled out of the swamp, theyā€™re happy.

Firefighters said the pilot and passenger, who were taken back to Tamiami Airport, were quite happy to be out of the Everglades.

ā€œFeels great,ā€ said Vanbuskirk. ā€œItā€™s good to know that people are home and safe.ā€


About the Author
Cody Weddle headshot

Cody Weddle joined Local 10 News as a full-time reporter in South Florida in August of 2022. Before that, Cody worked regularly with Local 10 since January of 2017 as a foreign correspondent in Venezuela and Colombia.

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