A massive search and rescue operation was launched Tuesday afternoon after a plane carrying ten people plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft went down approximately 80 miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida, sending U.S. Coast Guard crews from the Southeast Division scrambling to the coordinates.
Despite the distance from shore, officials confirmed that all ten individuals on board have been accounted for. Recovery teams are currently in the process of transporting the survivors to emergency medical services for evaluation.
While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, weather data points to a volatile atmosphere at the time of the accident. Storms were moving through the region, and the National Weather Service in Melbourne reported 17 mph winds with an 80% chance of precipitation.
The recovery effort faced immediate hurdles from Mother Nature. Dan DePodwin, Vice President of Forecasting Operations at AccuWeather, warned that the same conditions that may have contributed to the crash are complicating the response.
“There were clusters of thunderstorms developing off the east coast of Florida before noon,” DePodwin stated. “Any thunderstorm can create rapidly changing and potentially hazardous flying conditions. Within those storms, pilots can encounter sudden shifts in wind, including strong updrafts and downdrafts, along with reduced visibility.”
Search crews are currently battling choppy water and the threat of lightning. DePodwin noted that “rough seas and passing thunderstorms” will likely persist through Tuesday evening, with more storms expected on Wednesday.
Because the incident occurred far out at sea, where ground-based weather stations are nonexistent, investigators will have to reconstruct the scene using alternative technology.
“Investigators will likely heavily use satellite and radar data to analyze the conditions at the time of the crash,” DePodwin added.
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