VENICE (SNN TV) – Several local agencies are investigating a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico, killing at least two, including one minor.
The City of Venice said in a press release that this occurred around two and a half miles west of the Venice Fishing Pier. Sunday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration contacted Venice Police regarding a plane that took off from the Venice Airport Saturday night but never arrived to its destination. Divers not affiliated with local governments found a body of a woman who police later confirmed was related to the pilot. Search and rescue divers later found the body of a 12-year-old girl who was also related to the pilot. Authorities did not elaborate on their relationship.
Venice Police confirmed the aircraft has been located — a rented Piper Cherokee was found around a third of a mile offshore of the Venice Airport. Divers from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased juvenile in the passenger area. It is believed that a male pilot or passenger was also in the plane during the flight, but he has not yet been found with the wreckage as of this story.
Venice Police and Venice Fire Rescue are coordinating with the FAA, Venice Airport Director, U.S. Coast Guard, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, FWC, District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Sarasota Police Department.
UPDATE:
“It appears that the occupants of that plane were all family,” said Venice Police Chief, Charlie Thorpe.
According to Venice Police Chief Charlie Thorpe, a small single-engine Piper Cherokee aircraft, rented and piloted by a 42-year-old man left the Venice Municipal Airport at 7:30PM and never returned to St. Petersburg.
“We recovered a female two and a half miles out yesterday morning just after 10AM, some recreational boaters and divers were out in that area and found her first,” said Chief Thorpe.
Search efforts began shortly after, Sunday morning after the FAA reached out to Venice police, reporting the plane never returned.
“At about two o‘clock in the afternoon a Sarasota Sheriff’s office helicopter located that piper Cherokee about a third of a mile straight west of the airport property here, in about 15 feet of water,” said Chief Thorpe.
Search and rescue divers later found a 12-year-old girl who was also related to the pilot. Authorities did not elaborate on their relationship.
“We are still looking for a 42-year-old male that was as we determined the pilot of the aircraft from St. Petersburg, I may mentioned that they travelled here what appeared to be for dinner and intended to return directly to St. Pete from our information,” said Chief Thorpe.
Venice Municipal Airport Director, Mark Cervasio says it’s a difficult loss for the pilot community
“Anytime you lose one of your own it hurts, thankfully we haven’t had many, I’ve been here 6 and a half years and we haven’t had a fatality since I’ve been here but I’ve been in airports for a long time and its difficult,” said Venice Municipal Airport Director, Mark Cervasio.
Venice police say they will continue searching for the missing man as conditions allow.
“The search area is encompassing at least a five square mile area just south of where the aircraft was found yesterday and while that is based off the time, tides, currents, conditions, all that kind of stuff,” said Chief Thorpe.
Venice Police Chief Thorpe said the pilot did not signal a mayday.
