A search has been launched after a US pilot reported a passenger had fallen out of his small plane into the sea off Miami.
Coast Guard and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue air and water units are searching an area southeast of Tamiami Executive Airport, where the plane safely landed.
The pilot of a US plane travelling from Miami has been recorded telling air traffic controllers: "Mayday, mayday, mayday.
"I have a door ajar and a passenger that fell down. I'm six miles from Tamiami."
On the recording, posted to the website LiveATC.Net, the controller asks: "You said you've got a passenger that fell out of your plane?"
Responding, the pilot can be heard saying: “That's correct, sir. He opened the back door and he just fell out the plane.”
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman confirmed a mayday call was received at around 1.30pm on Thursday. The pilot was flying around eight miles south east of Tamiami Airport and landed the plane safely.
US Coast Guard and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue have searched the area but are so far unable to confirm if the pilot's call was legitimate.
Authorities are yet to confirm how many passengers were aboard the plane, but police said there was no evidence of foul play.
The search in the ocean around Tamiami Executive Airport, where the plane safely landed, is ongoing.
No further details are yet available.
