Lake Coeur d’Alene plane crash: Eight feared dead in collision over Idaho
Eight people are believed to have died aboard two planes that collided over Idaho, authorities have said.
The mid-air collision occurred above Lake Coeur d’Alene, in the north of the state, on Sunday where authorities have since uncovered two bodies.
There are believed to be no survivors among the other six passengers, which included aeroplane crew.
In a statement Ryan Higgins, of Kootenai County sheriff's office, said the two planes had collided over the lake at about 2.20pm.
The US Coast Guard and other units then attended the crash site near Powderhorn Bay.
One witness, John Cowles, said he was on the lake when he saw a seaplane's engine apparently some 200ft overhead.
He told The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, that one of the plane's wings then separated and dropped into the water.
On Sunday night, sonar detected the two planes almost 130 feet underwater, said Mr Higgins.
Mr Higgins told CNN that the planes, which were believed to have children on board, would not be recovered until Monday or Tuesday.
He added that investigators were still trying to determine what caused the collision, and how many people were aboard each aircraft.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor told CNN that one aeroplane was known to be a Cessna 206.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are now leading the investigation into the crash, said Mr Gregor.
