Coast Guard Suspends Search for Plane Crash Off San Diego Coast
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a Cessna aircraft that crashed approximately three miles west of Point Loma on Sunday, with six people on board. According to CBS 8, it is believed that no one survived the crash.
The pilot of the aircraft was identified as Landon Baldwin, who was flying with his wife, Torrie. The couple, from Arizona, had two children under the age of five and were expecting a third baby, as reported by CBS 8. "They had two little kids under five and his wife was pregnant just a few weeks due to have her third baby," said Kirsten Baldwin, Landon’s cousin.
Also on board the ill-fated flight were Jeremy Bingham and his three sons, Ayden, Gavin, and Bailey. A friend described Bingham on social media as "a cornerstone of this community — always kind, always willing to step up and help wherever he could," as quoted by CBS 8.
According to CBS 8, Kirsten Baldwin said that Landon loved being a pilot and was pursuing it as a profession. "We never would have thought that this would have happened," she said. "He was so careful and responsible, you know, and so something must have been horribly wrong for that to have taken place."
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that six people were on the aircraft when it went down, as reported by CBS 8. The last moments of the flight were captured in a chilling radio transmission: "Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday…. 4 bravo alpha low altitude alert climb immediately. 4 bravo alpha radar contact lost."
A federal investigation into the crash is now underway to determine if there was a mechanical issue or human error involved, as reported by CBS 8. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that a preliminary report will be available within 30 days.
Family members described Landon and Torrie Baldwin as "amazing, kind parents" who were fun to be around, as quoted by CBS 8. "They were always down to go and do something whether it was play tennis, or racquetball or get together for dinner.. go to the park. It was so fun that they were always down to have a good time," Kirsten shared.
The family’s strong religious beliefs are providing some comfort during this difficult time, as reported by CBS 8. "They believe in Jesus Christ and all of the family does too, and we believe that we’ll be able to see them again and that they and their kids will live as a family forever," Kristen said. "So there’s comfort and hope in that… death is not the end."
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with friends and family members paying tribute to those on board. As the investigation into the crash continues, CBS 8 will provide updates as more information becomes available.
According to CBS 8, the Coast Guard’s decision to suspend the search was made after an extensive search effort, involving multiple agencies and resources. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and uncertainties of air travel, and the devastating consequences of such crashes.
In a statement, the Coast Guard said that it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and offered condolences to the families of those on board. As reported by CBS 8, the incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the need for continued investigation and improvement in this area.
The CBS 8 report can be found at https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/coast-guard-suspends-plane-crash/509-dfe308e4-084e-4877-aec2-464956de531a.
