But, in a recent bizarre incident, a pilot and passenger filmed the dramatic scene after their plane crashed into the Pacific ocean. David Lesh’s single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza (small aircraft) took off from Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, on Tuesday. His friend Owen Leipelt co-piloted the plane as they planned to do a mid-air photoshoot of his plane.
But the aircraft began to lose power a few minutes after it took a flight and the plane crashed in water 10 miles off the coast of San Francisco.
BREAKING: Just spoke with pilot who crashed small plane into ocean outside of Half Moon Bay. He and his friend are physically ok. He snapped photos during the rescue. His friend was flying nearby and took the picture on the right. (📷Chris Leipelt) pic.twitter.com/r9IXVJIFJe
— Ian Cull (@NBCian) August 21, 2019
But rather than panicking, Lesh took out his waterproof phone and began filming himself and his friend who accompanied him on the airplane.
He recorded some selfie videos as they were waiting for the coast guard
Lesh and his friend can be seen laughing good-humouredly as they fend off jellyfish bites in the deep sea. They did not even have any life jackets on and held onto the seat cushions and window shades to stay afloat for 30 minutes, reports Today News.
Unbelievable video from pilot David Lesh, of the moment they see @USCGPacificSW come in for the rescue. His friend was flying near them when they crashed, circled around, and was able to guide USCG to their location. pic.twitter.com/SPdsuJpLpY
— Ian Cull (@NBCian) August 21, 2019
David is from Denver and was in town visiting friends, Owen and Chris Leipelt, who were flying near them.
Full story at 11 on @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/7PWZ0ubBOD
— Ian Cull (@NBCian) August 21, 2019
The super cool reaction of the passengers and pilot after the crash lead to online speculation and people wondered if the entire incident was staged!
https://twitter.com/KuzGang/status/1164148497056260097?s=20
https://twitter.com/JayBil3/status/1164382544768438272?s=20
“We skipped along the water for a few hundred feet and the impact was very minimal, it was not hard at all and we immediately opened the door and got out onto the wing,” he added.
“We took a quick inventory of what was on the plane. I grabbed my cell phone and the keys to the car. I knew we had about 20 or 30 seconds before it sunk,” he said.