Victims Identified In Brighton Plane Crash - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

Victims Identified In Brighton Plane Crash

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LANSING, Mich, (WLNS) – A 56-year-old woman from Costa Rica is dead and a 79-year-old Brighton man is seriously injured after a single-engine plane crashed into a Livingston County swampy wetland area on Saturday morning, about a half-mile from Brighton Airport.

The woman who died has been identified by police as Ana Ortega. She died at the scene. The pilot has been identified as Walter Davenport. He is currently hospitalized in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Hospital.

Airport Manager Bill Bertrand says the crash comes as a shock, as the pilot flies at least once or twice a week, and has been flying out of that airport for more than 30 years.

Michigan State Police say first responders had to cut their way into the swamp with chainsaws and axes. They say emergency officials were up to their necks in mud and water, and had to use an inflatable raft to ferry rescue equipment back and forth.

Right now, it is unclear why the plane crashed, but officials say neighbors called Livingston County Dispatch upon hearing a plane that sounded like it was having engine trouble. FAA and NTSB officials are investigating the cause.

Emerald Morrow is a reporter with WLNS-TV. Reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter or email at emorrow@wlns.com.

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