Two small planes collide off California coast
February 6, 2016
The planes collided at around 3:30 p.m. local time and went into the water about two miles outside the harbor entrance, said US Coast Guard officials.
Los Angeles Police Department divers have begun an underwater recovery operation. Coast Guard officials have also reported being on site and are coordinating a surface level search effort.
It is unknown how many people were on board the two planes.
"They found both a partial tail number and then a second tail number," said Los Angeles County lifeguard Captain Ken Haskett.
As darkness fell, about two dozen divers were on call to search the area, but, said Haskett, the planes may be at the bottom in up to 90 feet (30 meters) of water.
The crash site was a quarter of a mile (0.5 kilometers) south of the Angels Gate light - a landmark lighthouseon the San Pedro Breakwater.
av/gsw (AP, US Coast Guard)