Dr Peter Hertzak dies as plane crashes off Florida coast after father-of-two passed out at controls leaving aircraft to fly in circles unmanned 2 Hrs

A pilot travelling alone from Louisiana to Florida who flew spiralling in the sky for more than two hours before dropping into the Gulf of Mexico has been named as Dr. Peter Hertzak, 65, of Slidell, Louisiana.

Positively identified by Slidell Airport board members as the lone pilot of the downed Cessna 421 plane, Dr Hertzak is a prominent New Orleans cosmetic surgeon who runs his own practice the 'Hertzak Laser Center', in Slidell.

A mechanic at the airport, Bill Huete, said Dr. Peter Hertzak was the only person who piloted the plane.

He added that the doctor's wife told him her husband was flying the plane that morning.

'I met him years ago when he was looking to start flying again and bought this plane,' said pilot Bill Huete to CNN affiliate WWL-TV

'He flew by the book and he didn't scrimp on maintenance.' Read More