Two people have died after a plane crashed into a North Carolina lake on Sunday, multiple outlets reported.
The crash occurred shortly after the plane took off from the Hickory Regional Airport, and both the pilot and his passenger died as a result of the crash, the outlets reported.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol has identified the victims as Jeffrey Ray Cooley, 63, of Granite Falls, and Brian Frank Miller, 49, of Hickory, per the outlets.
Joe Brannock, Cooley’s friend and fellow pilot, said Cooley was familiar with the lake, having flown around it several times before.
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Power was restored about two hours after the crash, according to WCNC.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash, per WCNC.
The Hickory Fire Department and North Carolina State Police did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment
Lake Hickory spans more than 4,200 acres and has more than 105 miles of shoreline, according tothe city of Hickory’s website.
source: people.com
