Two men die after plane crashes into Utah Lake

A plane crashed into Utah Lake on Friday, killing both men on board, after it was on the way to nearby Provo Airport.

The crash happened at 10:10 a.m., with surveillance video showing the plane going straight down into the lake, corroborated by witness reports, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

Recovery of parts of the wreckage and the bodies took a long time due to bad visibility at the lake and the fuselage falling 9 feet underwater. Utah Lake State Park was closed Friday following the crash.

The bodies of victims Michael Hyrum Cox, 43, of St. George, Utah, and Mark Andrew Johnson, 46, of Washington, Utah, were recovered Friday night.

Mr. Cox is believed to have piloted the plane, with Mr. Johnson as a passenger, the UCSO said.

The plane, which was flying out of St. George Regional Airport, was approaching Provo Airport when a decision was made not to land, Provo Airport officials told Salt Lake City CBS affiliate KUTV.

The National Transportation Safety Board said on X that the crash is under investigation.