Chilling 911 audio has been released, capturing a father's frantic plea for assistance after the aircraft he was piloting crashed into dense woodland in rural Florida. The unidentified man was flying with his 11-year-old daughter when the incident occurred in Okeechobee County, south-central Florida, shortly after 9pm on January 10.
The Desperate Call for Help
Emergency dispatcher Joann Porter answered the call, revealing the pilot's first words were, "I've been in a plane crash." Porter later told WPBF, "I've never had a plane crash call before and certainly not from the person that was flying the plane." The pilot had only five percent battery remaining on his mobile phone when he made the desperate call.
Calm Amidst Crisis
The pilot informed Porter that both he and his daughter had sustained injuries in the crash. He stated they were east of Okeechobee Airport but was uncertain of their precise location. In the released audio, the man can be heard requesting help "as soon as possible please." Porter noted, "You can tell he was kind of losing his breath. But in all, he was calm."
The pilot expressed his pain, saying, "I'm hurting a lot." Porter reassured him, responding, "We're going to get you sir. We're going to find you and your daughter. Everything is going to be OK, alright? Just stay with us."
The Intensive Search Operation
Police and fire department personnel urgently combed the area while Porter continued to reassure the pilot over the phone. Rescuers used a siren in an attempt to alert the injured father and daughter that they were nearby. During the search, the 11-year-old girl could be heard screaming for help.
Successful Rescue After 40 Minutes
After forty minutes of searching, the rescue team finally located the crashed plane and successfully saved both the father and daughter. Porter reflected, "I know that was the grace of God that left that. Because when they found him, I was still talking to him." Both individuals are now expected to make a full recovery.
Porter expressed pride in her efforts to assist in the rescue, stating she was "very proud" of her role in helping the pair.
Investigation into the Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the crash revealed that the father had been struggling to start the plane's engine prior to takeoff. The pilot informed the organization that he noticed the cockpit and cabin lights were particularly dim before departure.
Although he managed to jump-start the aircraft and take off, shortly after liftoff the engine began to struggle and failed to generate sufficient power to remain airborne. The pilot stated the plane crashed while he was attempting to address the problem mid-air.
