UPDATE 1 - Coast Guard responding to report of mid-air collision

DATE: May 18, 2009 8:36:57 PM PDT

Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles

PRESS RELEASE

Date: May 18, 2009

Contact: Lt.j.g. Stephanie Young
(310) 521-3610

UPDATE 1 Coast Guard responding to report of mid-air collision

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Coast Guard and several partner agencies are currently searching the water just off the coast of Long Beach following a report of a mid-air collision, 9 miles southeast of the Torrance Airport at 6:10 p.m.

At approximately 7:00 p.m. the first of two debris fields were located about 5 nautical miles southwest of the Long Beach breakwall. A second debris field was located shortly thereafter about 3 miles northwest of the first debris field.

A security zone has been established around the two debris fields.

Currently rescuers from the Coast Guard, Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Baywatch Lifeguards, Long Beach Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from have responded to the scene and are currently conducting searches of the area.

The report of the collision came from a small aircraft in the area that witnessed the collision. The Coast Guard was notified that two small aircraft had collided, and one had crashed into the waters off of Long Beach Harbor. The Coast Guard Command Center in San Pedro immediately dispatched a 41-foot rescue boat from Station Los Angeles and an HH-65C Dolphin Helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles. The 87-foot patrol boat, Blacktip, is also en route.

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