Private Plane Crashes Off California Coast with 3 People on Board as Search Is Underway

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The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it issued an alert for the Beech 95-B55 aircraft off the coast of Pacific Grove
A search is underway for three people after a private plane crashed off a California coast over the weekend.
On Saturday, July 26, before 10:40 p.m., a two-engine aircraft crashed in the ocean near Sunset Drive and Jewell Avenue in Pacific Grove, Calif., per Flight Radar data, initially shared by NBC affiliate KSBW.
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on Sunday that it had issued an alert notice, which it does for missing aircraft, for the Beech 95-B55 aircraft off the coast of Pacific Grove on Saturday and that three people were on board.
The private plane departed from San Carlos Airport shortly after 10 p.m. local time and was headed to Monterey Regional Airport, per the Flight Radar data, which notes that the plane landed around 10:37 p.m. after 26 minutes of total travel and was last seen near Monterey. The flight, N8796R, traveled roughly 70 miles in total, according to Flight Radar.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash, per the FAA, which shared that the NTSB will provide further updates.
There has since been a multi-agency response to the crash, including assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, Pacific Grove Police, the Coast Guard and CAL FIRE, per KSBW. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard confirmed to the Daily Mail that a helicopter and lifeboats were deployed minutes after the crash.
The sheriff's office, NTSB and U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information on Sunday.
Also citing the Coast Guard, NBC affiliate KNBC reported that the branch received a report around 11:15 p.m. local time about a crash roughly 200 to 300 feet off Point Pinos Lighthouse near the Monterey Peninsula — with multiple agencies using drones, boats and helicopters to search the area.
CAL FIRE told KSBW that witnesses reported hearing an engine of an aircraft revving before a splash in the ocean, estimating that the crash site could be between 200 meters and a quarter mile offshore.
According to an additional report from the outlet, debris began to wash ashore near the apparent crash site and the NTSB will be reviewing them.
The area of Sunset Drive between Jewell Avenue and Pico Avenue was closed amid the response, per KSBW. Footage from the outlet shows flares being shot into the sky as first responders scope out the scene.
Read the original article on People