Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 | 9:12 a.m.
MIAMI — Police have identified the missing Florida man who they say fell from a small plane into the Atlantic Ocean.
Miami-Dade Police Department spokesman Javier Baez identified him Friday as 42-year-old Gerardo Nales of Key Biscayne, an island southeast of Miami not far from where he fell into the water.
Air and water rescue units continue searching for Nales, who police say either jumped or fell from the Piper airplane Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff. The pilot was the only other person on board. His identity not been released.
The pilot radioed in a mayday call to air traffic controllers and returned safely to Tamiami Executive Airport south of Miami.
According to a report on the website Live ATC.Net, the unidentified pilot calmly radioed the air traffic controller. LiveATC.Net provides live air traffic-control broadcasts from control towers and radar facilities around the world.
"I have a door ajar and a passenger that fell down. I'm six miles from Tamiami," the pilot says.
"You said you've got a passenger that fell out of your plane?" the air traffic controller responds.
"That's correct, sir," the pilot responds. "He opened the back door and he just fell out the plane."
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy