**Update - Plane crash off coast in Destin, Fl. Pilot from Louisiana killed

quote:

---

Al Habetz. 63. of Louisiana was killed after his twin engine, eight seat Cessna crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Destin around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

---

quote:

---

Habetz had reportedly flown into the Destin Airport earlier Tuesday to drop off passengers and was returning to Louisiana when the crash took place.

---

quote:

---

BODY RECOVERED FROM GULF FOLLOWING CRASH OF SMALL PLANE OFF DESTIN COAST The Coast Guard has recovered a man’s body following the crash of a small aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico offshore of Destin around 8:30 p.m. The Coast Guard, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission launched boats to begin a search after multiple 9-1-1 calls in reference to witnesses seeing an aircraft hit the water. Investigators are working to confirm the identity of the man, believed to be the pilot of the aircraft. The plane’s wreckage had not been positively located as of 10:50 p.m. Initial indications are that the plane had left the Destin Airport prior to the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. The identity of the victim has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin. At this time we do not have any indications of additional passengers however the investigation and search is active and ongoing.

---