SAN DIEGO — Two pilots were taken to a hospital after their small plane crash-landed into the San Diego Bay near North Island, officials say.
North Island Naval Air Station spokesperson Kevin Dixon confirmed both individuals were taken to the hospital out of precaution and that no one on the ground was hurt.
Video first streamed on San Diego Web Cam’s YouTube channel showed the aircraft had landed between a stretch of rocks and the bay.
According to FlightAware.com, the aircraft took off from Halsey Field at 12:22 p.m. and made several “figure 8” movements before heading back towards the airfield and eventually landing at 1:17 p.m. in the San Diego Bay.
The aircraft is a Learjet 35 and is operated by Fast Air Ltda.
FOX 5 spoke with the owner of Bali Hai Restaurant, which is located in direct view of the crash site.
“It was raining and visibility was very limited with the heavy rain and as soon as it cleared, a customer pointed out there was a plane at the edge of the bay,” restaurant owner Larry Baumann said.
Witnesses at the restaurant were able to see helicopter, boats and other vehicles surrounding the small plane as the fog cleared up.
Emergency crews were on scene assessing the damage and investigating.
Dixon said the United States Coast Guard Sector San Diego has placed a boom to prevent fuel spillage, and so far, no fuel has contaminated the bay.
FOX 5’s Zara Barker contributed to this story.