A pilot who was part of the massive search for two Florida teens missing after a fishing trip last July told investigators he saw one of the boys floating on debris.

Bobby Smith told the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission he was saw two white pieces of debris tied together with an orange life jacket when he was flying at 1,000 feet off the Georgia coast.

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He lowered to 200 feet.

“Laying on the debris was a person on their back, lifting their arms above their head,” according to the report.

The pilot climbed to 1,500 feet and radioed the information in to the Coast Guard. When he dropped down again, he couldn’t find the boat. The Coast Guard also searched by air and found nothing.

The pilot said “there is no doubt in his mind (about) what he saw,” according to the report.

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez