2 Long Island women die in boating incident in Maine, authorities say

Two Long Island women were killed Saturday in Maine when a pontoon boat flipped, tossing them into the water, authorities said.

The incident took place at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Flagstaff Lake, roughly 80 miles northwest of Waterville.

The boat, an 18-foot Sea-Doo Switch, was heading toward the beach of a lakeside campground and just 180 feet from shore when its bow ducked under the water, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. The boat's operator was unable to right the boat and he and six others were thrown into the water, authorities said.

Witnesses on shore rushed to assist and were able to pull the boaters to shore, but 53-year-old Farhana Nasir, of Selden, and Kiran Akbar, 23, of Lake Grove, died at the scene, authorities said.

A third woman, 22-year-old Noor Nasir, of New York City, was airlifted to the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and was reported to be in critical condition. None of the boaters were wearing life jackets, authorities said.

The accident is under investigation, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said.