https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/small-plane-crashes-in-everglades-2-onboard-rescued/Local News
Small plane crashes in the Everglades in Broward, two onboard rescued, authorities say
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Updated on: August 5, 2025 / 6:35 PM EDT / CBS Miami
Two people were rescued Tuesday morning after their small plane crashed in the Everglades in western Broward County, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.
The Cessna 172N Skyhawk went nose down on a levee about 14 miles west of Everglades Holiday park just before 9 a.m., according to officials. The FAA said the pilot reported engine problems.
Charter Captain Brett Isackson saw it happen.
On the radio with the control tower at North Perry Airport, the pilot made a chilling call.
"Mayday, mayday, mayday," he said explaining his aircraft was going down. " There's no airport near you but it's near the Everglades can you maybe find a dirt road?" The tower suggested. "I'm looking, I'm looking. I'm doing the best," the pilot responded. Charter Captain Brett Isackson saw it happen.
"It looked like they were doing a demo, practicing a touch-and-go as they were coming down. I don't know if they clipped the side of the grass, having engine trouble, but all we saw was it coming down for a landing and then it went 'boom' nose first," he said.
Isackson said he was close enough to check on the people onboard.
"We saw them come out and they said they were all right. That's basically what they said to us and we left them there, they said they have people coming out to get them," he said. Rescuers on airboats were on the way.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue battalion chief Michael Kane said the man and woman were not injured and were taken to Everglades Holiday Park.
According to the flight path from Flightaware, the plane took off from North Perry Airport at 8:02 a.m. It then flew over the metro area, past U.S. 27 and over the Everglades. This is a common training area. According to the flight path, 18 minutes after take off, the plane dropped 900 feet in a minute, coming to rest on the levee.
Ted Scouten contributed to this report.
