HOLIDAY, Fla. – Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay died Tuesday after his plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a press conference.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Coast Guard, Pasco Fired Department and Pasco Sheriff's Office all responded to the scene after a 911 call came in from a nearby residence.
The tail number matched the Icon A5 plane owned by the CY Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star. His body was recovered near the plane, according to officials.
Halladay, an avid pilot, was featured in an October 12 article on ICON Aircraft's website that shows Halladay posing next to his ICON A5, calling him a "regular ... renter and longtime deposit holder.
The article quotes the Halladay saying:
It's not yet clear what caused the fatal crash, pending a full investigation. The sheriff's office is asking people to respect his family and allow them to grieve in peace.