www.chinaview.cn 2004-02-01 08:40:55
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A small plane crashed into theocean near Los Angeles Port on Saturday, killing at least one people on board, authorities said.
Rescuers found one person dead inside the wreckage of the single-engine plane about 400 meters offshore from the Pacific Avenue and 36th Street, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mark Savage.
The aircraft reportedly went down at about 10:00 a.m. local time between the Los Angeles Lighthouse and Cabrillo Beach, where a fuel slick was spotted, officials said.
It is still unclear if there were other people on the plane at the time of the crash and there is no immediate information about the take-off and expected landing place of the plane.
Savage said reports of the crash sparked a massive search involving boats, helicopters and divers. The ocean is about 25 meters deep at the reported crash site and the visibility is poor.