Pilot Rescued from Wing of Crashed Plane in Everglades. ( Florida )

Florida Standard ^ | November 2, 2023 | GRANT A. HOLCOMB

[george76]

The crashed plane’s wing jetted out of the alligator and python-invested swamps of the Everglades just long enough for the pilot to survive. .

OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA — After nine hours waiting on the wing of his downed plane in the Florida Everglades, a pilot was rescued by Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue. He was the only person aboard.

The plane was registered to a flight school in Homestead, Florida but the school called 911 after they lost contact with the pilot.

The plane was a single-engine Cessna Skyhawk 172M that began experiencing trouble close to I-75 in South Broward County. A little while later – around 4:00 am – the plane went down near U.S. 27.

Rescue crews were initially deployed with airboats, but they quickly realized that a helicopter would be required for the mission.

When the helicopter arrived, they found the pilot sitting on the wing of his plane just above water with a wound on his leg. The man was subsequently transported to Memorial Regional Hospital.

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EVERGLADES DANGER

The Florida Everglades – while one of Florida’s most treasured regions – is still largely untamed and dangerous.

Earlier this year, a wildlife photographer spotted a crocodile the length of a car – 14 feet – which the photographer dubbed “Croczilla.”

When crocodiles and alligators are at bay, the pilot and Everglades visitors likely would encounter non-native Burmese pythons.

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) now say that it is likely impossible to eradicate the growing Burmese python population in South Florida.

Each year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sanctions the Florida Python Challenge which saw over 1,000 hunters from 32 states participate in 2022.

[A strike]

“crocodiles” ?

[Keyhopper]

The Florida trail starts at Monroe station on the trail heads north, then splits at the lake. The left leg will take you to St. George island, the right leg will take you toward Jacksonville.