Plane Went Down In The Gulf Of Mexico Off Louisiana Coast

It was a story that made international headlines. Two men survived several hours in the Gulf of Mexico after the Beech Baron they were flying was ditched and sank following what they said was an in-flight fire on the airplane. Now, authorities say the two intentionally put the aircraft in the water in order to collect the insurance on the plane.

The flight occurred in October, 2012. Theodore Wright and Raymond Fosdick departed Baytown, TX enroute to Sarasota, FL and reported an in-flight fire about 40 miles off the Louisiana coast. After the plane went down, Wright grabbed his iPad, which was in a waterproof case, and escaped from the airplane along with Fosdick. They had reported their position to authorities, and as they waited for rescue, they made a video with the iPad in which they appeared calm, and even joking at times, according to a report from Inside Edition.

They were rescued after about three hours in the water.

But now, authorities say that the pair intentionally put the airplane in the water in order to collect the insurance on the aircraft. It had been purchased for $46,000, but the insurance company paid out $84,000 after the accident. Prosecutors say Wright “fraudulently represented that the emergency landing in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by mechanical failure rather than the result of an intentional act."

Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Galveston News reports that also indicted was Shane Gordon of League City, TX, who is a business partner of Wright. Prosecutors say Wright and Gordon are listed as the owners and managers of several business entities that were used to launder money from the insurance scams.

According to the indictment, Wright has also been charged in insurance scams involving the destruction of a Lamborghini Gallardo automobile, a luxury sailboat, and a 1971 Cessna Citation.

(Image from file. Not incident airplane)

FMI: Original Reports Inside Edition, Galveston News