Maritime police divers are expected to be called in today (Saturday) to help search for the body of 74-year-old “experienced pilot” José António Inácio - still missing after the little two-seater plane he was flying crashed into the sea near Sagre in thick fog on Friday morning.
According to ports commander Carvalho Pinto, the authorities have still not pinpointed the exact crash location, despite having searched a “vast area”.
All they know for sure is that the Cessna 152 flew out of Portimão aerodrome at 10.15 on Friday, lost radio contact fairly quickly thereafter and crashed into the sea about a kilometre from Ponta da Atalaia in Sagres at 11.20 am - just 60 metres from a fishing boat.
“None of us could see anything, as there was thick fog”, fisherman Adriano Guerreiro who radioed Maritime Police with the news told reporters.
“We just heard a great big bang and realised what had happened from the smell of fuel, and the wreckage that we found - which included the wheel of a small plane”.
Carvalho Pinto has told newspapers that it is still not clear whether fog caused the plane to crash into the sea, or whether there was another reason.
According to news reports, Inácio was very experienced and had lived a large part of his life in Canada. He is understood to have had a home in Mexilhoeira Grande - not far from the aerodrome.
As far as maritime police can make out, the little plane - with any luck still holding Inácio’s body - could be 20-30 metres down on the sea bed.
Further news is expected later today.
In the meantime, an Air Force helicopter will be resuming air searches while police and rescue boats scour the waters, keeping a keen eye on wreckage.
This far, papers and documents relating to both the plane and its pilot are believed already to have been found, along with certain items of clothing.
- Source: http://portugalresident.com
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