UPDATE: Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue personnel found what they believe to be debris from a plane off the coast of Seabeck in Hood Canal, about 2:15 p.m. Jan. 26.
“At approximately 2:15 p.m., Boat 51 with Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue located a debris field in the area that the plane was believed to have gone down,” CKF&R spokeswoman Ileana LiMarzi reported. “The U.S. Coast Guard is sending two vessels to the area to assist in the recovery of debris and search efforts. The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office is also on scene as well as Mason County Sheriff’s Office.”
Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Ken Dickinson said the debris was found in Guillmont Cove, between Seabeck and Nellita.
“They are finding parts out there that they believe is an airplane, but they don’t know what make or model it is,” Dickinson said. He said the water is about 500 feet deep there, “so they don’t have the ability to get down that deep. Basically, they are waiting for the Coast Guard to bring a bigger ship over. The Coast Guard is assuming responsibility for the search operation.”
Earlier report:
SEABECK — Two hours after the first report was made that a small plane crashed into Hood Canal near Seabeck on Jan. 26, emergency responders had not been able to locate an airplane or debris in the water.
But while several agencies involved in the search were hopeful, they were not presumptuous.
SEABECK — Two hours after the first report was made that a small plane crashed into Hood Canal near Seabeck on Jan. 26, emergency responders had not been able to locate an airplane or debris in the water.
But while several agencies involved in the search were hopeful, they were not presumptuous.
“At 12:51 this afternoon, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue received a call of a possible plane crash into the Hood Canal off the area of Thunder Ridge Way,” said Ileana LiMarzi, public information officer for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, at the command post established in the parking lot of Evergreen Lutheran Church on Seabeck-Holly Road and Northwest Holly Road.
“Callers [reported] seeing what appeared to be a small plane go into the water. We launched a boat at Miami Beach, and at 1:40 p.m. a Coast Guard helicopter was searching from the air and nothing was found. Did a plane go down into the water, or did it go into the woods? We’re doing our best to cover the area.”
LiMarzi said at 2 p.m. that, in addition to the Coast Guard helicopter and CKF&R boat, two fire engines and a medic unit went to the area. Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Ken Dickinson said the sheriff’s office expected to launch one of its boats from a launch at a private residence on Old Holly Hill Road.
A search was being conducted from Tekiu Point to Frenchman’s Cove, LiMarzi said.
“We have reports of a plane that went down into the water but we have been in the area for quite some time now, so we don’t know if one has gone down or not,” Dickinson said, adding that “so far no one has found any debris or oil or anything.”
Initial calls to 911 reported a small, stunt-style, red and white airplane twirling in the air as it dove down toward the water.
“At 12:51 this afternoon, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue received a call of a possible plane crash into the Hood Canal off the area of Thunder Ridge Way,” said Ileana LiMarzi, public information officer for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, at the command post established in the parking lot of Evergreen Lutheran Church on Seabeck-Holly Road and Northwest Holly Road.
“Callers [reported] seeing what appeared to be a small plane go into the water. We launched a boat at Miami Beach, and at 1:40 p.m. a Coast Guard helicopter was searching from the air and nothing was found. Did a plane go down into the water, or did it go into the woods? We’re doing our best to cover the area.”
LiMarzi said at 2 p.m. that, in addition to the Coast Guard helicopter and CKF&R boat, two fire engines and a medic unit went to the area. Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Ken Dickinson said the sheriff’s office expected to launch one of its boats from a launch at a private residence on Old Holly Hill Road.
A search was being conducted from Tekiu Point to Frenchman’s Cove, LiMarzi said.
“We have reports of a plane that went down into the water but we have been in the area for quite some time now, so we don’t know if one has gone down or not,” Dickinson said, adding that “so far no one has found any debris or oil or anything.”
Initial calls to 911 reported a small, stunt-style, red and white airplane twirling in the air as it dove down toward the water.
