Plane crash kills 5 in Lake Okeechobee, deputies say

Twin-engine Piper Aircraft crashes near Pahokee Airport

PAHOKEE, Fla. – A plane crash left five people dead in Lake Okeechobee on Friday, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. 

After the twin-engine Piper Aircraft crashed about 3:30 p.m., PBSO divers and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the Pahokee Marina. About three hours later they had recovered five bodies from the aircraft wreckage. 

ABC News affiliate WPBF reports authorities responded to the Pahokee Marina after the plane crash Friday in Lake Okeechobee.

The Piper Aircraft departed from Tampa International Airport and went down just north of Palm Beach County Glades Airport, better known as Pahokee Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The plane took off from the Sheltair Aviation Services' executive hangar complex. When the plane vanished, the FAA issued an alert notice. 

A witness told deputies they saw someone swimming away from the wreckage, but authorities haven't found the alleged survivor. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the plane crash. Deputies are investigating the deaths. 

This is a developing story. ABC News affiliates ABC Action News and WPBF West Palm Beach contributed to this story. 
 


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The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.