MONTEREY, Calif. (BN24) — Three people were found unresponsive early Sunday after a small aircraft plunged into the Pacific Ocean off California’s central coast, authorities said.
The twin-engine Beech 95-B55 Baron, which had departed from San Carlos Airport at 10:11 p.m. Saturday, vanished from radar near Monterey just 26 minutes later, according to flight-tracking data from FlightAware. The aircraft was carrying three individuals at the time of the crash.
The U.S. Coast Guard said emergency responders were dispatched late Saturday following multiple reports of a downed plane approximately 300 yards off Point Pinos in Monterey County. Witnesses described hearing the aircraft engine revving before a splash was heard offshore. Debris from the crash later began washing up along the coast.
Rescue efforts continued through the night, with the Coast Guard deploying both helicopter and boat crews. Local fire departments and law enforcement also assisted in the search operation.
One person was located in the water around 3 a.m., and divers recovered the remaining two individuals from the wreckage between 6:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. All three were reported as unresponsive by the Coast Guard.
“In this case, unresponsive means no signs of life,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves said in a statement. “However, it is the responsibility of the coroner’s office and Sheriff’s office to officially determine death.”
The identities of the victims have not been released. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
AP
