Plane crashes in ocean off Huntington Beach; pilot rescued

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A small plane that was towing a banner crashed in the ocean just off Huntington Beach during a lifeguarding competition Friday.

The pilot was rescued after the plane went into the ocean about 30 yards (27 meters) from shore, according to Coast Guard Lt. Sondra-Kay Kneen.

No one else was aboard.

Video posted online showed that people carrying surfboards immediately rushed toward the aircraft moments after it hit.

“Suddenly we heard a thump,” said Corinne Baginski, whose 17-year-old daughter was on the beach between events.

“The kids saw it and suddenly they turned and ran towards it.”

The crash occurred during events for the 2022 California Surf Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard Championship.

Federal Aviation Administration records show that the plane is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft registered to Van Wagner Aerial Media, a national airplane advertising company.

The company did not immediately have a comment on Friday afternoon.