Search efforts underway for 3 men after aircraft crashes near San Clemente Island

A search effort was underway for three men on Wednesday, May 10, after an aircraft went down in the waters near San Clemente Island, authorities said.

The Phoenix Learjet crashed about a mile southwest of the island just before 8 a.m., with those aboard broadcasting an aircraft emergency to Navy personnel on the island, according to Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Levi Read.

A U.S. Navy Phoenix Learjet was in the area when the downed aircraft was first reported and began searching the debris field, and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was also called in to assist in the search and rescue operation.

The aircraft departed from the Naval Air Station Point Mugu, near Oxnard, earlier in the morning though it was not clear what the aircraft’s intended destination was, Read said. The aircraft was owned by Fireside Partners in Delaware and contracted by the U.S. Navy.

Personnel from the Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were involved in the search. There were no updates as of 1 p.m..

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew has launched for search and rescue efforts for the report of a downed aircraft with 3 persons on board 1 mile SW of San Clemente Island. pic.twitter.com/8UWArQoRXj

— USCG Southern California (@USCGSoCal) May 10, 2023

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