Cable news networks have been covering the story of an unresponsive single-engine turboprop plane that eventually crashed near Jamaica.
Two F-15 fighter jets scrambled over the Atlantic Ocean trailing the plane, which U.S. officials said was being flown by a pilot “unconscious and slumped over” in the cockpit. The plane departed Rochester, NY this morning heading to Naples, FL. It was last heard from at 1oamET, flying off course and into Cuban airspace, ultimately crashing in the ocean just north of Jamaica.
Fox News’ Jon Scott, a licensed pilot, first reported the news at the top of “Happening Now” at 1pmET. Scott went to former pilot and Fox News correspondent Leland Vittert for a report on the plane, later talking to another former pilot, correspondent Trace Gallagher. Wolf Blitzer first reported the news at 1:14pmET, speaking with Aviation Correspondent Rene Marsh. Ronan Farrow reported the news at 1:20pmET. Scott also first reported the plane’s crash at 2:37pmET. Joy Reid reported the news at 2:46pmET; Brooke Baldwin reported the crash at 2:51pmET. The cause of the crash is unknown at this point.