Plane Lands in Ocean off 21st Street in Ocean City; Pilot OK
Image courtesy Cesar Campos, Campos Media
A small airplane — a Cessna 172RG believed to be used for fish-spotting — landed in the ocean just off 21st Street in Ocean City around 6:10 p.m. The plane and pilot were brought to shore minutes later.
The pilot and only occupant was evaluated by EMS but appeared to be uninjured. Police identified him as Trevor H. Deihl, 23, of Reedville, Va. According to his Facebook page, Deihl is a pilot for Omega Protein, a well-known menhaden harvester, which has a processing plant in Reedville.
Kathleen Bergen, FAA spokeswoman, says the plane lost power and landed in the ocean close to the shore.
The state police also note that numerous witnesses who were on the beach at 20th Street saw the single-engine plane land on the water near the shoreline. They said the plane appeared to glide toward the water as it descended and then float on the surface after it landed.
A salvage operation is now underway. Police have closed the beach between 22nd and 23rd streets. The FAA, NTSB, Coast Guard, state police, DNR, Ocean City police, fire/EMS and beach patrol are assisting.
Stay tuned to WGMD and WGMD.com for continued coverage.
