ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard suspended its active search at 12 p.m. Monday for a pilot aboard a small aircraft that collided with another plane in mid-air above the San Pablo Bay in Richmond, Calif., Sunday.
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family of the missing person, the Coast Guard suspends a search and rescue case with extremely great care and deliberation, “ said Capt. Mike Day, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco deputy commander. “After a search area is saturated several times with a maximum number of assets, resources and crew effort, and persons in distress are still not located, a decision is made to suspend a case. “
At approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco command center received a call about a mid-air collision between a small Cessna plane and WWII-era aircraft. The Coast Guard immediately launched four rescue boat crews and one rescue helicopter crew and established a temporary safety zone in the water while the Federal Aviation Administration established a temporary flight-restriction zone in the air. The Coast Guard Cutter Pike searched through the night and was rejoined early Monday morning by a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.
Search Patterns conducted by the Coast Guard from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning – See more at: httpwww.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2154458/Coast-Guard-suspends-search-for-downed-aircraft-near-San-Pablo-Bay-#sthash.9uxJUYZu.dpuf
After searching for approximately 20 hours, the Coast Guard has suspended search and rescue operations until new evidence is presented.
The Coast Guard and assisting agencies have searched approximately 40 square miles.
Searching were crews from:
Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco
Coast Guard Station Vallejo
Coast Guard Station Golden Gate
Coast Guard Station San Francisco
Coast Guard Cutter Pike
Contra Costa County
Oakland Police Department
Marin Sheriff’s Department
San Rafael Police Patrol Boat
California Highway Patrol Aircraft
Sonoma Helicopter
