2 planes crash in mid-air, plunge into ocean off LA

Los Angeles, Feb 6: Two small planes collided in midair and plunged into the ocean off of Los Angeles harbor. There was no immediate word of any survivors, authorities have said.

The planes collided at around 3:30 pm (local time) on Friday and apparently went into the water about two miles outside the harbor entrance, US Coast Guard and other officials said. It was unknown how many people were on board.

Fire and lifeguard boats and rescue divers swarmed the area. "They found both a partial tail number and then a second tail number," Los Angeles County lifeguard Captain Ken Haskett said.

As darkness fell, about two dozen divers were on call to scour the area but the planes may be at the bottom in up to 30 meters of water, Haskett said.

The crash site was a 0.5 kilometers south of the Angels Gate light. The harbor entrance was closed to traffic while the search continued.

PTI