At about 12:15 eastern time, a Piper PA-32-260 ditched in the Florida Straits about 30 miles southeast from Key West. The pilot escaped but two reported passengers were presumed to have drowned. The flight was operated by a business offering customers a chance to join the mile-high club. The pilot said an older Hispanic couple who spoke little English, paid cash and only provided their first names hired the flight. Once the flight was airborne, the male passenger produced a small knife and demanded to be flown to Cuba. The pilot maneuvered aggressively to disorient the man and reversed course toward Key West, but a struggle in the cockpit ensued in which the throttle handle snapped off. The three donned life vests, but the couple inflated theirs before exiting the airplane, and the airplane sank before they could get out.
August 09, Key West, Fla. / Piper Cherokee Six
At about 12:15 eastern time, a Piper PA-32-260 ditched in the Florida Straits about 30 miles southeast from Key West. The pilot escaped but two reported passengers were presumed to have drowned. The flight was operated by a business offering customers a chance to join the mile-high club. The pilot said an older Hispanic couple who spoke little English, paid cash and only provided their first names hired the flight. Once the flight was airborne, the male passenger produced a small knife and demanded to be flown to Cuba. The pilot maneuvered aggressively to disorient the man and reversed course toward Key West, but a struggle in the cockpit ensued in which the throttle handle snapped off. Th...
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-32-260, operating for a "mile-high club" business, ditched in the Florida Straits after a hijacking attempt.
- An older Hispanic male passenger produced a knife and demanded the pilot fly to Cuba, leading to a struggle in the cockpit where the throttle snapped.
- The pilot survived the ditching, but the two passengers drowned after inflating their life vests inside the sinking airplane, preventing their escape.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
