2nd plane recovery

Photo courtesy of LASD’s Special Enforcement Bureau.

Local authorities have recovered the second plane and third victim in Friday’s mid-air collision between two aircraft near the Long Beach Harbor.

Divers from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), Los Angeles Port Police (LAPP), Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) participated in recovery efforts Wednesday morning.

The wreckage was located Tuesday night about a mile away from where the other aircraft was found Sunday, according to LASD’s Special Enforcement Bureau.

According to sheriff’s officials, the second plane, a Citabria, was located about one mile west of the original crash site on Tuesday evening with the use of sonar devices and remote-operated underwater vehicles.

At about 10:00AM on Wednesday, SEB’s dive team dove to the location and used flotation devices under the wreckage to bring the aircraft and a female victim to the surface of the ocean, LASD Deputy Lisa Jansen stated.

Los Angeles Harbor patrol personnel lifted the wreckage with a crane on their barge and transported it to the Los Angeles Harbor, Jansen added.

The female victim will be identified by the county coroner.

Officials believe two aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision Friday, February 5 at about 3:00PM near San Pedro under unknown circumstances, according to Allen Kenitzer, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A small debris field was located shortly after.

The aircraft were a Beech 35 Bonanza, with two men aged 61 and 81 aboard, and a Citabria, piloted by a 72-year-old woman. Both aircraft were operated out of the Torrance Municipal Airport.

 

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the LASD’s SEB at 323.881.7800. Anonymous tips can be provided through “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800.222.8477 or texting letters TIPLA plus your tip to 274637, or through http://lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service contributed to this report.

This story was updated at 1:13PM with more information on recovery efforts from LASD officials. 

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.