Two dead after plane crashes into Gulfside waters off Marathon Airport

The bodies of two people were removed from the water Sunday morning after a 1961 Cessna 210 Centurion airplane that took off from Florida Keys Marathon International Airport crashed in Gulfside waters near Rachael Key.

The identity of the two dead are still under investigation. The two are believed to be the only two on board, however a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Dive Team is en route to dive on the plane to investigate further.

A passing mariner saw a body and notified the U.S. Coast Guard shortly after 9 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard and the FWC responded. The FWC is the primary investigating agency. The Federal Aviation Administration out of Miami was en route to the scene as of noon Sunday.  

The plane had been scheduled to take off from Marathon at 6 a.m., according to flight logs. If the plane, indeed, took off at that time and crashed unseen by anyone until the passing mariner reported finding a body in the water at 9 a.m. is part of the FWC and FAA investigation.  

The investigation thus far suggests the plane was headed to Savannah, Georgia.