Small plane crashes in Lake Michigan – three people rescued

Three people were rescued by the US Coast Guard about 12 miles out into Lake Michigan near the Milwaukee and Racine County line after the plane they were in crashed into the lake.

According to flight software, the Cirrus SR22 aircraft took off from Mitchel International Airport in Milwaukee at 12:17 p.m. and headed east towards Michigan.

About 25 miles over Lake Michigan, the pilot started having trouble with the plane and made a turn back toward Wisconsin, heading to the Racine area. About 12 miles out from land the plane was spotted on radar entering the water at about 12:37 p.m.

At 12:45 the Coast Guard boat departed Milwaukee en route to the plane crash site. The three people all had flotation devices on that was said to have saved their lives.

According to the Coast Guard, the plane sank at the crash site. Its unknown at this time why the plane went down.