Small plane crashes in Florida Keys

Three people onboard rescue

MARATHON, Fla. – Boaters managed to rescue three people after their small plane crashed into the water off Marathon on Monday.

Teresa Scott was enjoying lunch on the water with her husband when she said she first heard and then saw the plane in trouble. She said she could hear the engine spitting and spurting and cutting out before the plane plunged into the water, engine first.

"The next thing you know the plane started to slowly get closer and closer to the water and we were watching it when the plane actually nose-dived right into the ocean," Scott said.

Scott and her husband immediately raced towards the wreckage but another fisherman was already pulling the three men out of the plane.

"We were quite surprised by the white situation. We see bi-planes flying over all the time, so it was pretty shocking to see it come down. You know, it's like watching it in the movies," she said.

The three people onboard were not hurt. They were all taken to shore while a local fisherman began to pull the plane into shallow water.

The FAA said the plane was flying out of Marathon Airport when it reported some sort of problem. It is registered to Conch Air, whose Website offers tourists flights around the Keys.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded and determined there were no environmental concerns.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.