6 Dead After Plane Crashes Off Coast Near San Diego, F.A.A. Says

U.S.|6 Dead After Plane Crashes Off Coast Near San Diego, F.A.A. Says

Six people were killed after a small plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of San Diego on Sunday, the authorities said.

The plane, a twin-engine Cessna 414, crashed about three miles west of Point Loma, San Diego, at about 12:45 p.m. local time, the Coast Guard said on social media.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a preliminary report on Monday that the plane crashed “under unknown circumstances” and was destroyed. The report said there were six fatalities.

As of Monday afternoon, there was no immediate information about the victims.

The Coast Guard, which continued its search for the wreckage on Monday, said that the depth of the water below a debris field was about 200 feet.

The plane was registered to Optimal Health Systems in Pima, Ariz., according to the F.A.A.

In a statement, Doug Grant, the company’s founder, said, “We personally knew several of the passengers onboard and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community.”

Mr. Grant did not identify the victims.

He said that, although the plane was registered to the company, “we were its previous owners” and that the plane was sold on June 30, 2023. He said he had no further comment about the crash.

The plane was bound for Phoenix and crashed shortly after departing from San Diego International Airport, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

The F.A.A. and the National Transportation Safety Board said they would investigate the crash.