A single-engine aircraft crashed into the ocean close to the Oak Island Pier at 705 Ocean Drive, North Carolina, US, on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m.
The pilot of the small plane, who was the only person travelling in it, survived the crash.
According to local media reports, he suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The plane has been recovered and towed out of the water.
Town officials said the beach safety unit was already in the area, having just performed water rescues, and was able to quickly retrieve the pilot, reported WECT.
A witness, who was fishing on the pier, can be heard saying as she records, as quoted by WRAL News, “Oh my God, a plane just crashed into the ocean, it’s going down.”
An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.
The US has witnessed several aviation accidents this year.
Earlier in January, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional passenger jet collided mid-air in Washington DC, leaving 67 people dead.
