Small Plane Crash off San Diego Claims Six Lives

Authorities have reported that a small plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the twin-engine Cessna 414 went down just three miles southwest of San Diego shortly after it took off.

Parts of the wreckage were located underwater in the Point Loma region, at a depth of approximately 200 feet.

Flight tracking data showed that the plane had departed from San Diego International Airport and was en route to Phoenix, Arizona.

“I have a field of debris, but I don’t have that size at the moment,” stated Ryan Graves, a petty Coast Guard officer, during a report to NBC7 on Sunday.

Live ATC Audio recordings revealed that the pilot communicated difficulties with climbing shortly after takeoff. Air traffic controllers urged him to ascend to 4,000 feet, as the aircraft had only reached about 1,000 feet at that time. The pilot then received instructions to land at a nearby Navy airport.

Not long after, he issued repeated “Mayday” distress calls before contact was lost.

A witness, who was surfing nearby, reported seeing the plane drop at an angle before disappearing into the clouds and then reemerging—only to plummet into the ocean.

“The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water. I saw the splash, but within six seconds, it went silent. It seemed like they hit the water at high speed,” said witness Tyson Whislovsky.

The identities of those who lost their lives have not been released. The plane was reportedly tied to a health supplement company, which stated that it sold the aircraft to a private group in 2023. The company did note that it had personal connections to some passengers.

“We personally know some of the passengers, and our sincere condolences go out to those affected by this tragedy. They were all incredible members of our small community,” expressed Doug Grant, the company’s founder.