1 dead in plane crash in Mille Lacs Lake

UPDATE 10:20 pm:

Authorities recovered the body of the 47-year-old Blaine pilot shortly before 10 p.m., said Sheriff Burton.

Authorities are responding to a fatal plane crash in Mille Lacs Lake.

The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office said a 911 call about the plane crash Friday afternoon, about two miles east of the Shah-Bush-Kung Bay Public Water Access in Kathio Township.

The 911 caller was a pilot of the second floatplane who saw the crash.

Investigators believe the two planes took off from the Anoka County Municipal Airport around 1 p.m. and flew toward Mille Lacs Lake planning to make a short landing on the water, with the final destination being Aitkin County.

One of the planes landed successfully but the other crashed into a lake and nosedived in 26 feet of water, authorities said. Investigators believe the pilot, the only person on board the plane, is still inside.

Sheriff Kyle Burton told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that crews were working to recover the body of the pilot, a man in his 40s, before nightfall.

The scene is still active and the Sheriff’s Office said it is still in the process of getting more resources to respond to the crash.

Anoka and St. Louis Sheriff’s Office is assisting in the search.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified.

The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by multiple agencies, with several others called to the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.