Two planes collide over northwestern US lake, eight feared dead

Lake Coeur d’Alene

BOISE (Idaho, US), July 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight people are believed to be dead after two planes collided over Coeur d’Alene Lake in Idaho and then sank, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ryan Higgins said.

A call came in for two planes that had collided over the lake around 2:20 p.m., Higgins said Sunday.

Two victims, both deceased, were recovered from the air crafts before they sank, Higgins said. The remaining six victims – adults and children – are still unaccounted for but are believed to be dead.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the collision or how many victims were on each plane, Higgins said.

The planes – a Cessna and an unknown second aircraft – were located by a sonar team in 127 feet of water, Higgins said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the collision, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.