Pilot Brian Haggerty survives after banner plane crashes into water off of Miami Beach, Florida

At 500 feet in the air, the plane’s engine stopped, giving the pilot just a few seconds to decide on a course of action.

“He didn’t attempt to land on the beach,” said Robert Benyo, owner of Aerial Banners Inc. in Pembroke Pines, the company that operates the plane.

Safety is the most important thing, and he knew there were people on the shore,” he said. “You only have about 25 seconds to decide what you’re going to do. He did an absolutely amazing job protecting the public and himself from harm.”