Osteen, FL - A flight instructor and passenger killed when their plane crashed into a wooded area in Osteen this week have been identified.
According to the Volusia Sheriff's Office, Miroslav D. Velickovich, 61, of Tybee Island, Ga., and passenger Miguel Duarte, 34, of the Peruvian Air Force, were killed in the crash on Wednesday.
The FAA said the single-engine experimental MX Aircraft MX2 took off from Spruce Creek Fly-in Airport for training exercises around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The plane had reportedly sent an emergency signal to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center around 6 p.m. The Volusia Sheriff's Office Air One helicopter located the wreckage in a wood area around 7 p.m., near Lopez Road in Osteen.
Because the downed airplane was heavily damaged and upside down, it was difficult to confirm the number of occupants. Officials initially thought only one person was on board, but it was later reported that two people, a flight instructor, and a passenger, were in the plane when it took off from Spruce Creek Fly-In.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Bureau are still investigating the cause of the crash.
