WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – UPDATE: The woman who lost her life as a result of the plane crash has been identified as 71-year-old Diane Linker of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
While names have not been released, Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials say the pilot is an 87-year-old man while the passenger is a 74-year-old man.
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One of three people that were in a seaplane that crashed near EAA AirVenture has died.
The Minnesota woman, who was a passenger, died Friday.
Another person remains in critical condition while the third injured person is out of the hospital.
The crash happened Thursday evening near the sea-plane base in Black Wolf. That’s just outside Oshkosh.
Emergency vehicles blocked off the road into EAA’s seaplane base.
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Lieutenant David Roth tells WLUK one of the planes flipped over into Lake Winnebago.
“I do know the plane was attempting to take off. Lake Winnebago is rough at this point in time.”
EAA officials believe the seaplane hit a wave upon takeoff.
“Two of the occupants were trapped in the plane. One of the occupants was able to get out when the door opened when it crashed. The other two had to be taken out of the plane.”
Roth says a first responder was also hurt.
“He received a cut on the hand and he was burned by the fuel in the water.” According to Roth the people on the plane are all from Minnesota. They were attempting to head back that way when the crash happened.
The FAA and the NTSB are investigating this crash.
Local first responders and the Coast Guard helped with rescue efforts.
Divers did get in the water to make sure no one else was in the plane.
