Two hospitalized after small plane crashes into American River in Sacramento

Two people were hospitalized Wednesday after a small plane crashed into the American River in Sacramento, authorities said.

The two-seat aircraft tumbled into the water east of Interstate 5 and Discovery Park shortly before noon, the Sacramento Fire Department said.

The plane’s pilot and owner was able to get himself out of the plane, but the woman in the passenger seat was unconscious and submerged in water, said Keith Wade, a Fire Department spokesman.

“He was sitting outside the aircraft [that was] floating in the water,” Wade said.

The plane was equipped to land on water, and though it was partially under water, its pontoons were keeping it buoyed up near the surface, he said.

First responders performed CPR on the woman and she was taken to a hospital, where she remained in critical condition, Wade said.

The man suffered from a head injury and was in stable condition.

Wade said that officials don’t know why the plane crashed, and that the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandra