Gerardo Nales, a Key Biscayne man, was identified as the person who fell out of a small plane and into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, according to reports.
Miami-Dade Police Department spokesman Javier Baez said Nales, 42, fell into the water, reported CBS.
On Thursday, the pilot issued a call of distress, saying the passenger fell out after the plane’s door was open.
“I have a door ajar and a passenger that fell down. I’m six miles from Tamiami,” the pilot said, according to The Associated Press.
He added that the passenger “opened the back door and he just fell out the plane.”
The aircraft took off from Tamiami Executive Airport, which is located south of Miami.
Police and Coast Guard searchers are looking for Nales’ body. Their search was expanded on Friday due to currents and wind.
According to WPTV, the pilot was flying at around 1,800 feet when the passenger fell out.
Officials say that it is unlikely that Nales survived the fall.
“It’s reasonable, anybody that falls from an aircraft without a parachute turns into a recovery effort and not a search and rescue,” Lt. John Jenkins with Miami-Dade Police told CBS.
Police spokesman Javier Baez said there isn’t any evidence of foul play.
