A private jet crashed into the sea near Mount Kakos near Heraklion Airport on the island of Crete on Thursday morning. There were 2 people on board the aircraft. The plane sent an SOS before crashing into the sea.
The single-engine plane with two people on board crashed into the sea around 10 a.m. shortly after taking off from Heraklion Airport, where it was making a refueling stop en route to Egypt, state broadcaster ERT reported. The crash involved the coast guard, fire brigades, EMAK rescue units, police, air force and ambulances.
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The plane did not sink immediately, and witnesses said they saw two people trying to hold the sinking plane. As it slowly sank, the pilot and passenger fell into the cold sea. A Coast Guard rescue boat picked up both passengers, local media reported.
Cretapost.gr reported at 11:30 am that despite rescue efforts, the 68-year-old passenger from Indonesia did not survive and was declared dead. The second passenger, a 26-year-old man from South Africa, in good health, receives first aid at a hospital in Heraklion.
The aircraft is reportedly registered in Indonesia. According to ERT, he flew from Podgorica (Montenegro) to Egyptian Hurghada with a landing in Crete. The causes of the accident remain unknown at this time.
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