WWII-era plane crashes off Fla. Panhandle, killing neurosurgeon pilot and his passenger

WWII-era plane crashes off Fla. Panhandle; 2 dead

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — A neurosurgeon and one other person were killed when the World War II-era plane they were in crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mike Gurspan confirmed Sunday that Dr. Herman Evan Zeiger, of the Birmingham, Ala., area, was piloting the plane when it went down a day earlier.

Zeiger was flying the vintage T-6 Texan in formation with several similar aircraft, but Gurspan says it’s unclear if they were doing acrobatics or participating in any organized show.

The body of a female passenger has been transported to the medical examiner, but she has not yet been identified.

Divers are still trying to remove the wreckage of the plane from waters about 45 feet deep.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A neurosurgeon has died after the plane he was flying crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle. His passenger also was killed in the incident.

WKRG-TV says Dr. Evan Zeiger was flying a World War II era plane in formation with several other aircraft when the crash occurred Saturday. The report says Zeiger came from Birmingham, Ala.

It says Coast Guard rescue crews found Zeiger, his passenger and the wreckage in water 50 feet deep. It does not identify the passenger.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann says the Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash at 12:45 p.m. Saturday near Miramar Beach. The aircraft is reported to be a T-6 Texan trainer plane.

Information from: WKRG-TV, www.wkrg.com/