Witnesses share accounts of banner plane crash off New Smyrna Beach; pilot OK

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — Beachgoers are speaking out about the harrowing moment a banner plane crashed into the water off New Smyrna Beach. Witnesses said Thursday morning’s crash could have ended differently. Instead, they watched as the plane flipped with the pilot, who managed to walk away alive. “I heard the plane, so I looked up, next thing you know, I heard a loud pop, like a backfire,” said David Young. There was a pop, then silence from the plane’s engine. “I thought the guy did a good job and put it right where he needed to,” said Young. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said a small banner plane crashed into the water at around 11 a.m. off New Smyrna Beach. “I’m thinking, ‘Man, he’s awful low,’ and it looked like he was trying to land on the beach,” said Dennis Robinson.

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