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Mid Air Collision Between Two Private Planes Over The Ocean
By Jackawa Jackson | May 20, 2009
On the evening of May 18th, Long Beach Fire Department land and sea companies responded to a report of two small aircraft that had collided over the ocean just past the breakwater. They were joined in their search by the US Coast guard, LBPD, LAFD, and LA County fire units. LBFD boat 15 was the first to locate one of two debris fields which proved to be the point of impact in the water and proof that the report was correct. This began an extensive search of the area in an attempt to locate possible survivors. The initial call was placed by another pilot who witnessed the crash. The intense search continued through the night and into the following day. Sadly, by the afternoon of the following day, all hope of rescue was abandoned and the grim reality set in that all people on board the two planes were killed in the accident. The mission then became a recovery operation in an effort to recover the deceased and the wreckage of the two planes. Both planes flew out of Long Beach airport to an area frequented by pilots in training. The cause of the tragic accident is under investigation. There were no other reports of deaths or injuries to citizens or first responders.
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