September 10, 2015
The pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed Thursday afternoon off the coast of Atlantic City has been identified by his wife as Gaylord, Michigan, resident Michael Moir, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating after a Mooney M20 aircraft departing from Gaylord, Michigan, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 7 miles southeast of Atlantic city at around 2:45 p.m Thursday. The FAA had earlier said that the crash occurred closer to 17 miles off the coast.
Moir's wife, Jean, told the Press of Atlantic City that her husband, 68, was an experienced pilot who had flown for the last forty years. She last saw him about 45 minutes before he took off when he stopped to say goodbye to her.
During initial rescue efforts, the Coast Guard deployed a helicopter, search boat and dive team to the area.
New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Brian Polite said that a team is out investigating the incident and dealing with debris from the aircraft.
A spokesperson from Gaylord Airport in Michigan said that the airport did have an aircraft matching the description of the Mooney M20, which generally seats four people. Information from the website FlightAware indicated that the plane was heading to Atlantic City International Airport (ACY).
Read more at the Press of Atlantic City.
