Reported Plane Crash Off Palos Verdes Was False: Authorities

PALOS VERDES, CA — Authorities searched the water near Rancho Palos Verdes Monday evening after a woman reported possibly seeing a downed aircraft. However, no aircraft was found.

The woman called 911 at 5:58 p.m. to report the possible downed aircraft in the water, and said a small raft deployed after the plane descended toward the water, Ed Pickett, a supervising dispatcher at L.A. County Fire Department, told the Los Angeles Times. Personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard searched the water, according to sheriff's Deputy Juanita Navarro.

The search was called off about 6:40 p.m., and authorities believe the woman may have seen a tugboat pulling a vessel, not a downed aircraft, Navarro said.

Authorities told the Los Angeles Times that it was most likely a false report because there was only one 911 call regarding the alleged crash.

City News Service contributed to this post