Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

First responders, helicopter tour agency rescue pilot after small plane crashes in ocean


A man being treated by crews after a small plane crashed in the ocean near Myrtle Beach State Park. (Sherry Singleton)
A man being treated by crews after a small plane crashed in the ocean near Myrtle Beach State Park. (Sherry Singleton)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

A small plane crashed in the ocean near Myrtle Beach State Park and the sole occupant has been rescued, according to Horry County police officials.

Kirk Lovell, with the Myrtle Beach Airport, says the plane was a private aircraft, called a Mooney, with one person on board.

Jeremy Bass with Oceanfront Helicopters said he sent three of his helicopters to help with the rescue and they threw the man a life vest.

Horry County police say the man was treading water next to the plane when crews got to him. The plane submerged a short time later.

Emergency crews on scene say the man was helped out of the water via jet ski.

No information has been released about his current condition, but police say he was conscious when he was taken from the scene for treatment.

The plane left Myrtle Beach Airport and crashed a short time later after possible engine issues, police said.


Crews from Horry County Fire Rescue, Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue and Surfide Beach Fire all responded to the scene.

ABC15 New's Eddie Kadhim spoke with the owner of Beachfront Helicopters about his company's assistance in the rescue.


Bass said the effort truly was a team effort.

"The plane had nosedived and ascended down into the ocean where it's not longer visible from the air even," he said.

While the pilot of the small plane was fighting for his life in the water, people took to the water and the air to help.

When one of the Oceanfront Helicopters crews dropped a life vest to the pilot, Bass said it appeared as though the water and current was giving the pilot a hard time.

"He appeared very worn out at that point. We were able to get one of the offshore helicopters over to him take one of our inflatable life vests, prep it for him, ball it up into a ball, and throw it right in front of him so he could grab it. He was able to don the life vest, pull the life cord, lay back and inflate it, and he was able to just lay back and wait," Bass said.

Just then, Bass said more help arrived. A jet ski rushed in and pulled the exhausted pilot from the ocean.

"The tide was running really hard. He was in a current that was pulling him out further out into the ocean so, as hard as he was swimming, he was not making any progress at all. Thankfully got there just in the knick of time. I'm proud of the team doing what they've been trained to do," he said.


Loading ...