World War II-Era Plane Crashes Into Ocean Filled With People During Cocoa Beach Air Show
COCOA BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) — A restored World War II-era plane came crashing down along a busy Florida beach while the water is filled with people.
Witnesses told Florida Today they heard the BM Avenger engine sputtering down the beach and knew something was off as the plane slowly descended Saturday during the Cocoa Beach Air Show.
"It looked like (the pilot) pulled up at the last moment and avoided any spectators, there were loads of people on the water, and then I saw him on top of the plane, it looked like he was okay," said Melanie Schrader
The pilot was not injured and refused medical treatment.
The air show released a statement saying the plane had a mechanical issue and that rescue personnel were standing by during the emergency landing.
The plane was a torpedo bomber used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. According to the Cocoa Beach Air Show website, the plane underwent extensive restoration before returning to flight last year.
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