“Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday!” the pilot responded, according to air traffic radio transmissions recorded on LiveATC.net. It appeared to be his last transmission before the twin-engine aircraft crashed about 5 miles off the coast about 12:30 p.m.

Authorities are investigating after a small plane crashed into the ocean 5 miles off the coast near San Diego with six people aboard. U.S. Coast Guard officials said a debris field was discovered near Point Loma Sunday afternoon and began searching for the wreckage in an area where the water is about 200 feet deep.

A Cessna 414 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, killing all six aboard shortly after takeoff. The pilot issued a mayday call, citing difficulty maintaining heading and altitude. The plane failed to reach a nearby naval base for an emergency landing.