Plane crash reported off coast of Rancho Palos Verdes was probably a false report, authorities say

Authorities responded Monday evening to a possible plane crash off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes but found no aircraft.

At 5:58 p.m., a witness called 911 to report a small plane going down in the ocean, telling the dispatcher a small raft deployed after the aircraft descended toward the water, said Ed Pickett, a supervising dispatcher at L.A. County Fire Department.

Firetrucks, lifeguard boats and helicopters responded to the scene, and firefighters set up a command post at the Point Vicente Lighthouse.

By 7:45 p.m., most first responders had been called off the search, as no aircraft had been found, and only a few lifeguard boats remained, doing their “due diligence,” according to the county fire department.

Authorities said because only one person called in the incident, it was probably a false report, as they would have expected more people to call 911 about a plane crash.