Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Ken Dickinson issued this statement on the small-plane crash in Hood Canal, near Seabeck, on Jan. 26 at 4:48 p.m.:

HOOD CANAL — Deputies from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, as well as rescue personnel from Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, the United States Coast Guard and Mason County, are in the area of Guillmot Cove on the Hood Canal near Seabeck at the scene of a small airplane crash into the water there.

CenCom received multiple calls beginning at 12:50 p.m. reporting a small, possibly red and white, airplane that was in distress in the area of Frenchman’s Cove (near Guillmot Cove) on Hood Canal. One of the callers reported seeing the plane go into the water and reported an oil/debris field in that area.

Within minutes, Washington State Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard and local news media had aircraft in the area searching for the debris but were unable to locate anything initially. Vessels from Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard also responded to the area.

At approximately [2:15 p.m.], a USCG helicopter reported seeing a potential debris field near Guillmot Cove and directed Kitsap County’s 33-foot Safe Boat and crew into the area where the debris field was confirmed.

The debris located at the scene appears to be that of an airplane, though the make and model have yet to be determined. The depth of the water where the debris field is located is approximately 500-600 feet. No occupants of the airplane have been located as of now.

At this point, boats from KCSO, CKFR, MCSO and the USCG are in the area awaiting the arrival of a larger Coast Guard vessel that is en route to the scene to continue the investigation.

The United States Coast Guard is in charge of the search effort at this time.