NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A woman’s desperate 911 call for answers after a small plane crashed in the Florida Everglades near Broward earlier this week has shed light on the harrowing moments leading up to the tragic incident.
The 911 call, released Friday, revealed the woman’s distress as she explained to the dispatcher that her relative, Mohamed Badenjki, had not been heard from since his flight the previous night. The woman, who was in California at the time, expressed her concern as she mentioned that Badenjki’s phone was offline and that it was unusual for him not to make contact after a flight.
The small plane, a single-engine Cessna, was carrying Badenjki and another man, Khadim Kebe, when it crashed north of Interstate 75 near mile marker 28, not far from Weston. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the plane left North Perry Airport around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and went off the radar around 6:45 p.m.
In the 911 call, the woman recounted a message she had received from Badenjki while he was in the air, describing the ominous conditions during the flight back and the use of instruments due to poor visibility. She expressed her distress at not being able to reach Badenjki and emphasized the unusual nature of his silence after landing.
The distressing call led authorities to the wreckage of the plane, along with the bodies of Badenjki and Kebe. Badenjki, a well-known member of the aviation community, had been flying for several years and was recognized in 2009 for his heroic actions as an American Airlines customer service agent.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board announced plans to investigate the crash in an effort to uncover the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. Authorities hope to find answers and provide closure to the families and loved ones of the victims.