BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The good Samaritan who helped rescue two people and a dog onboard a small plane that crashed into the Indian River was working at a condo and jumped into action, the owner said.
David DiLoreto said he was home Wednesday afternoon as his electrician worked on renovations to his kitchen.
DiLoreto said all of a sudden, he could see a low-flying plane.
“I was looking from the window and just happened to see a plane ten feet over the water,” he said. “And my first reaction is, ‘Was that a seaplane?’ And no, it wasn’t, actually. It was a plane actually landing in the water.”
Just as the crash landing happened, DiLoreto said his electrician, Aaron, ran to the rescue.
“Aaron just got into action, got down the seawall, and found a flotation device, and went out and helped with the dog,” the condo owner said. “It was a pretty large dog he said to get into the kayak.”
First responders reported through dispatch recordings that the plane was 400 yards offshore.
“Currently, we have the plane in the water,” one responder said. “It appears that we have one occupant and a dog on a kayak.”
DiLoreto made a joke about his electrician being a hero.
“He jumped in,” he began. “If he finishes the kitchen on time, he’ll be a double hero.”
Some other neighbors Thursday said they’d like to hear more about why the plane crashed - if it was strictly weather or something else.
The FWC said the Federal Aviation Administration is the lead investigator of the crash.