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A Learjet Air Ambulance Crashed Off The Coast Of Ft Lauderdale Killing All Onboard
 
By Mike Mitchell
 

November 20, 2013 - Local, state and federal search and rescue crews continuing searing for bodies off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida after a Mexican owned Learjet 35 (XA-USD) crashed Tuesday night killing all onboard. 

The Learjet early in the day had arrived from Juan Santamaría International Airport, Costa Rica and landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL) with a patient that was taken to an area hospital.

At or about 7:40 PM the Learjet departed Fort Lauderdale to return back to Cozumel, Mexico with four people onbaord.

They have been identified as the flight crew; the pilots were Jose Hiram Galvan De Lao and Jose Buendia Moreno. It is unclear at this time who was piloting the aircraft. Onboard was Mariana Gonzalez Inzunza a nurse and Dr. Fernando Senties.

 

Approximately three miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale the pilot radioed air traffic control (ATC) to report mechanical problems. ATC (Miami Departure Control) cleared the flight to return back and to descend from 7,000 feet to 4,000. ATC further instructed the pilot to turn left to a heading of 330. The pilot radioed back he was unable and was going to do a 180. 

At or about 7:50 PM the pilot radioed ATC and stated "Mayday, mayday, mayday". ATC instructed the pilot to turn to a heading of 260 degrees. The pilot stated Roger. ATC then instructed the pilot to turn to a heading of 240 and to expect an approach for runway 28R (KFLL) and advise when you have airport in sight. 

 

 

 

Within moments ATC received a garbeled transmission from the pilot which seemed to indicate the pilots were having difficulties in flying the aircraft. About 7:55 PM ATC asked the pilot "Can you make it to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport?” …. “Fort Lauderdale Airport is at "eleven o clock eight miles".

Just after 8 PM the Coast Guard received a call from the FAA that a plane had gone down. Search and rescue crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale and Coast Guard Air Station Miami were immediately dispatched to begin the search for the 1979 aircraft and possible survivors. Once on the scene the Coast Guard located a debris field two miles northeast of Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale Airport.

The Learjet which was configured as airborne intensive care unit was operated by AirEvac International providing air ambulance transport services. By 11 PM the Coast Guard had recovered two bodies. The U.S. Coast Guard is now searching a 30 square mile area from the wreckage for the two bodies. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Paul Turner said "Right now, we're continuing our search efforts with surface assets and aviation assets. We'll continue those until mid-morning…. We'll switch out crews. We'll definitely go throughout the day and reassess in the evening."

 
 
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