Pilot killed in plane crash on Mille Lacs Lake

MILLE LACS COUNTY, Minn. (FOX 9) - A 47-year-old pilot was killed in a plane crash on Mille Lacs Lake Friday, roughly two miles east of Shah-Bush-Kung Bay Public Water Access in Kathio Township.

The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office said dispatch received a call around 2 p.m. from the pilot of another floatplane who reported seeing the crash happen.

Authorities say two planes took off from the Anoka County Municipal Airport at around 1 p.m. and flew to Mille Lacs Lake, where the pilots were going to do a brief water landing, then continue to their final destination in Aitkin County.

One of the planes made a successful landing, while the other crashed into the lake, according to authorities. 

Law enforcement and rescue crews searched the lake and located the plane. Sheriff Kyle Burton with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office says the 47-year-old pilot died in the crash, and they were able to retrieve his body around 10 p.m. on Friday. The pilot has since been identified as Ryan Comer of Blaine.

Sheriff Burton is asking people who were on the water or those who have a cabin along the southwest shore of the lake to see if they have Ring or other camera footage capturing the crash. People can contact the sheriff's office at 320-983-8257.

The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Enforcement Division, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Park Ranger Division, Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office.

The FAA and NTSB have been notified and are currently investigating the crash of an Icon A5 aircraft.