'You knew right away something was really wrong'

VINCENT DILELLA looked up when he heard a strange sound from the sky, knowing almost immediately that something was horribly wrong.

He saw a seaplane about 300 feet in the air, emerging from behind one of the many high-rise condominiums that dot the coast of Miami Beach.

In a moment, one of the aircraft's wings was in flames, generating such heat Mr Dilella felt the warmth in his face.