Chilling mayday call from pilot of doomed plane before it plunges into ocean
In yet another American aviation tragedy, a small plane carrying six people nosedived into the ocean shortly after takeoff on Sunday with authorities confirming that the crash claimed the lives of everyone on board.
The doomed twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed at around 12.30pm on Sunday in San Diego, just three miles west of Point Loma.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has confirmed the deaths of all six passengers, but their identities are pending official release.
Harrowing audio from air traffic control, shared by CBS 8, captured the pilot's desperate plea for higher altitude immediately after leaving San Diego International Airport.
The aircraft barely managed to reach 1000ft during its doomed ascent, with the pilot uttering "mayday" over the radio before falling silent.
Coast Guard crews swiftly located a debris field off the coast near San Diego's Point Loma area on Sunday. According to The Associated Press reports, the ocean at the crash site has a depth of around 200ft.
Following the devastating incident, the Coast Guard launched a major search operation, involving a Jayhawk helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft, a cutter, and two smaller boats, continuing their search until dusk.
"We've located a debris field, but I don't have details on its size yet," Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves told NBC 7 shortly before 3.30pm on Sunday.
A surfer told NBC 7 about the chilling moment he saw the aircraft plummet: "The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water.
But after I saw this splash, about six seconds later, it was dead silent. I knew that they went in the water, nose first, at a high speed," Tyson Wislofsky revealed.
After confirming that the doomed plane belongs to vitamin producers Optimal Health Systems, there's been an update from the company that the FAA records might be behind the times.
The Arizona-based firm, which sold the plane just this year, said it passed to private hands.
Founder Doug Grant joined in mourning, stating:
"We personally know several of the passengers onboard, and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community."
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