Law enforcement reported that a man and his dog safely reached shore Sunday afternoon after the pilot’s small plane landed in the ocean off Rancho Palos Verdes.
Sgt. Jeffrey Velasco from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated that they received a call around 5:20 p.m. regarding a plane crashing into the ocean near the Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles.
The department dispatched an air rescue team for the small aircraft, with responding deputies confirming the pilot’s safety. Los Angeles County Fire Supervisor Bernard Peters informed the Los Angeles Daily News that the plane involved was a single-engine Piper Cherokee Six.
The aircraft subsequently submerged, as noted by the outlet. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear Sunday evening, including details such as the plane’s departure location or whether it was attempting an emergency landing.
According to Edward Wargo, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard, there was one individual on board accompanied by their dog.
“Both were able to safely swim,” Wargo confirmed.
The Coast Guard’s immediate focus shifted towards assessing and mitigating any potential environmental damage resulting from the plane’s fuel.
