Pilot rescued from water after plane goes down off Lower Keys

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A pilot was rescued after he made an emergency landing in the water off the Lower Keys.

The pilot was pulled from the water approximately 13 miles away from the Lower Keys Sunday morning, according to sources.

He has been identified by authorities as 40-year-old Adam Joseph Barney, of Orlando.

Monroe County Fire Chief Jim Callahan told Local 10 News that Barney reportedly radioed the tower in Key West that the aircraft was having engine failure.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Barney was flying a twin-engine Aero Commander 500 and he was the only person on board when it went down.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and vessel were deployed to the scene, a spokesperson told Local 10 News.

Barney was rescued and taken to waiting paramedics at Venture Out Resort on Cudjoe Key, authorities said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident, with the NTSB acting as the lead.


About the Authors

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

David Dwork joined the WPLG Local 10 News team in August 2019. Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, David has covered South Florida sports since 2007.

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