In late-breaking news just reaching ANN HQ, it appears that two aircraft have collided over the state of Florida. At least three people are believed to have died as a result, though only two bodies have been recovered so far. The accident occurred some two to three miles off shore from the town of Deerfield Beach. Florida media sources quote Broward Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Todd Leduc, "At this point it does not appear that we have any survivors. However, we do have a debris field that is consistent with a midair collision." 

Both aircraft apparently departed from Pompano Beach Airport late Tuesday night and one is reported to be a Cessna 172 registered to the Gulfstream Academy Of Aeronautics, of Fort Lauderdale.

[Updated information now indicates that one plane came from Ft Lauderdale --ed.]

UPDATE (Wednesday afternoon):

Four bodies, two men and two women, were recovered by boaters Tuesday night. The Miami Herald reported, "The planes collided about 7:50 p.m. one-half mile off Deerfield Beach. Preliminary reports suggested two Cessna aircraft flew toward each other, attempted evasive actions and went wing-to-wing... one plane, heading north, clipped the wing of another that was heading south. The southbound plane came tumbling down. The other craft continued north and hit the water 50 feet from the pier."

The school's president confirmed that its plane was on a student flight.

**   Report created 6/18/2003   Record 2  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 4903F        Make/Model: C172      Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk
  Date: 06/17/2003     Time: 2355
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: Y    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: FORT LAUDERDALE   State: FL   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT N759XA AND ACFT N4903F CRASHED IN MIDAIR UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES; THE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD OF BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE FATALLY INJURIED AND THE ACFT WERE DESTROYED, ACFT N759XA CALLED BOCA TOWER INBOUND FOR LANDING, ACFT NEVER ENTERED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA, MINUTES LATER THE TOWER WAS ADVISED OF A MIDAIR COLLISION, FT, LAUDERDALE, FL
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:  2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KFLL 2353Z 15007KT 10SM -RA SCT019 SCT090 BKN140 BKN250 28/25 A2994
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: FT LAUDERDALE, FL  (SO17)             Entry date: 06/18/2003

**   Report created 6/18/2003   Record 7  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 759XA        Make/Model: C182      Description: 182, Skylane
  Date: 06/17/2003     Time: 2355
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: Y    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: FORT LAUDERDALE   State: FL   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT N759XA AND ACFT N4903F CRASHED IN MIDAIR UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES; THE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD OF BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE FATALLY INJURIED AND THE ACFT WERE DESTROYED, ACFT N759XA CALLED BOCA TOWER INBOUND FOR LANDING, ACFT NEVER ENTERED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA, MINUTES LATER THE TOWER WAS ADVISED OF A MIDAIR COLLISION, FT, LAUDERDALE, FL
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:  2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KFLL 2353Z 15007KT 10SM -RA SCT019 SCT090 BKN140 BKN250 28/25 A2994
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: FT. LAUDERDALE, FL          Dep Date: 06/17/2003   Dep. Time: 2345
  Destination: BOCA RATON, FL           Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: FT LAUDERDALE, FL  (SO17)             Entry date: 06/18/2003

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