South Florida

2 men killed after small plane crashes in the Everglades near Broward

Chopper 6 aerial footage from the scene showed the wreckage of the plane in a swampy area and a fire rescue crew responding on an airboat

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Two men were killed after the wreckage of a small plane that crashed in the Florida Everglades near Broward County was discovered Wednesday, officials said.

The discovery was made north of Interstate 75 near mile marker 28, not far from Weston.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials confirmed two people were killed in the crash. Their identities weren't released but officials said both are males.

Chopper 6 aerial footage from the scene showed the wreckage of the plane in a swampy area and a fire rescue crew responding on an airboat.

One body was covered by a yellow tarp and a small piece of the wreckage was on fire.

Federal Aviation Administration officials said the wreckage of the single-engine Cessna was discovered around 10:50 a.m.

BSO Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane said it's believed the plane left North Perry Airport around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and went off the radar around 6:45 p.m.

Kane said authorities didn't receive a call about the aircraft until around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"They were beyond help at this point in time," Kane said. "If the aircraft went down as it apparently did at 6:45, you're talking, you know, 16 hours, 18 hours of those two parties being out there in the Everglades."

Kane said the fire was caused by the plane's fuel being burned off.

"What we assume is that the aircraft took off, it had a good amount of fuel, possibly, when the aircraft went down, the fuel ignited and that is what you’re seeing, you’re seeing the remnants of the airplane fuel burning off," Kane said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash.

No other information was immediately known.

Check back with NBC6 for updates.

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