HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — A body was discovered in the water on Monday morning near the area where a small plane crashed off the coast of Half Moon Bay on Sunday night, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The plane, identified as a single-engine Cozy Mark IV, had two people on board, as confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The sheriff’s office reported that the plane was seen flying erratically near Moss Beach before the crash. Shortly after the crash, debris consistent with aircraft parts was found in the ocean near the coastline.
While search efforts were underway to locate any potential survivors, a deceased woman was spotted in the water by a commercial fishing boat on Monday morning. The woman’s body was then brought to shore and taken to the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office for identification. It is believed that she may be associated with the plane crash due to her proximity to the crash site.
The Coast Guard announced on Monday morning that they had suspended their search for any survivors.
The plane had departed from Hayward Executive Airport and had flown over San Francisco before the crash occurred. The NTSB stated that the crash took place shortly after the plane’s departure from Half Moon Bay.
The upside-down wreckage of the Cozy Mark IV was initially discovered by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The FAA and NTSB are conducting an investigation into the crash.
The crash site, approximately a few miles away from Half Moon Bay Airport, prompted a response from the United States Coast Guard, California Highway Patrol, and local fire crews. The extent of the damage and the cause of the crash are yet to be determined.