SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — A search and rescue operation has been launched by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Diego after an aircraft debris field was found off San Clemente Island, officials said.

Watchstanders at the Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego received the initial report of a downed aircraft at 7:53 a.m., said USGS in a press release.

In a tweet around 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, USCG Southern California said an H-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew was searching for three people who were onboard the aircraft, which was reported down about one mile southwest of San Clemente Island.

By around 10:20 a.m., the Coast Guard said it had joined U.S. Navy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection crews in a search after a debris field was located.

A Navy spokesperson told FOX 5 the aircraft is a plane contracted by the Navy. USCG described the aircraft to be “a Phoenix Lear jet.”

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed in a tweet it will investigate the incident.

No further information was immediately available. USCG says search efforts are ongoing.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates.