PHOTOS Plane crashes off Florida Everglades in Monroe County, 3 people found in water

MARATHON — Three people were rescued off the Florida Everglades on Saturday morning after their plane crashed in the Gulf waters while en route from Tampa to Marathon, authorities said.

“We’ve heard that their injuries were minor,” Miami Coast Guard spokesman Barry Bena said.

The Miami and Marathon Coast Guard stations, along with several South Florida agencies, responded to a report of a downed aircraft at about 9 p.m. Friday.

The three passengers aboard, whose identities hadn’t been released as of Saturday night, were found clinging to a lobster trap buoy about 10:30 a.m. Saturday by U.S. Coast Guard personnel from Marathon.

The single-engine aircraft was traveling from Tampa to Marathon, the Coast Guard said.

The man who was the pilot and the owner of the aircraft had a man and woman on board when the plane stalled and crashed, the Coast Guard said. They spent the night clinging to a lobster trap buoy before they were spotted by the small boat crew from the Marathon station of the Coast Guard, authorities said.

The were found about five miles from Cape Sable, authorities said.

“The 100-plus Coast Guard and partner agency personnel that were involved with the search are extremely happy to locate and rescue the three crash survivors,” said Capt. Pat DeQuattro, commander of Coast Guard Sector Key West. “This search was a great success.”

Everglades National Park Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Coast Guard crews from Clearwater and Marathon, and Monroe County officials assisted with the 2,200-square-mile search early Saturday.

Collier County sheriff’s officials said they weren’t involved in the response.

Earlier

Three people were rescued off the Florida Everglades on Saturday morning after their plane crashed in the waters of Monroe County while en route from Tampa to Marathon, authorities said.

“We’ve heard that their injuries were minor,” Miami Coast Guard spokesman Barry Bena said.

The Miami and Marathon Coast Guard stations, along with several South Florida agencies, responded to a report of a downed aircraft at about 9 p.m. Friday.

The three passengers aboard, whose identities hadn’t been released as of early Saturday afternoon, were found clinging to a lobster trap buoy about 10:30 a.m. Saturday by U.S. Coast Guard rescuers from Marathon.

The single-engine aircraft was traveling from Tampa to Marathon, the Coast Guard said.

Everglades National Park Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Coast Guard crews from Clearwater and Marathon, and Monroe County officials assisted with the 1,300-square-mile search early Saturday.

Collier County sheriff’s officials said they weren’t involved in the response.

Earlier

The Coast Guard has found three people after their plane crashed in Monroe County near the Florida Everglades on Friday night.

The three individuals were found by the Marathon Coast Guard clinging to a buoy during a boat search.

The plane was headed to Marathon.

Collier County sheriff's officials said they weren't involved in the response.