Seaplane from White Lake flight school tips and takes on water in Orchard Lake

A seaplane operated by a White Lake based flight school began taking on water and tipping on Orchard Lake Monday afternoon, prompting a multi agency rescue for the two people aboard.

Orchard Lake Police Chief Jeffrey Gomez stated that the aircraft landed on the lake and stayed on the water for several minutes. During that period, one of the floats started to leak, which caused the plane to tilt. The event occurred shortly after 1 p.m.

Gomez confirmed that both occupants were transported safely to shore and that no injuries were reported. He characterized the event as a watercraft incident rather than a plane crash. The Chief explained that seaplanes often perform touch and go landings, where they briefly contact the surface before taking off again, or they may remain on the water for a period before departure. Gomez believes the plane intended to do the latter in this case.

The aircraft belongs to Michigan Sea Plane, a flight school headquartered in White Lake. West Bloomfield police, Orchard Lake police, and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Marine Division all responded to the scene to assist with the rescue operations.

Nearby Saint Mary’s High School staff observed the event from campus. Steve Schneider, a campus security employee, said staff members went outside to assess the situation after hearing about the activity on the lake. Schneider noted that the school maintains safety boats and was ready to intervene if anyone was in immediate distress. He added that staff did not know what had happened when they first saw the scene.

Authorities have asked the public to avoid the local boat launch while crews continue their work at the site. Gomez indicated there is no current threat or danger to the public. Officers are containing the area and evaluating the possibility of a fuel spill from the waterlogged aircraft.