Miami

Pilot Who Landed Plane on Miami Beach: ‘Luckily Everything Went Well'

The pilot of a small plane that made an emergency landing on Miami Beach said he was just trying to avoid swimmers and not panic.

"I just was calm, the worst thing to do is panic at a time like that," Jafet Cordeiro said. "Luckily everything went well."

Cordeiro was behind the controls of the single engine Cessna when he had engine trouble and was forced to land in the sand near 57th Street Tuesday afternoon.

He said he was originally aiming for a water landing but was worried about swimmers.

"I felt something wrong with the airplane, didn't want to continue," Cordeiro said. "Right away I saw this small spot where I landed, it was safe, no individuals around."

No one was injured. The plane was still sitting on the beach early Wednesday waiting to be towed away. Cordeiro said his training helped him in the tense situation.

"I got the right training, I guess," he said. "I just did my job."

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