LONG BEACH ISLAND – The search for a small plane believed to have crashed in the water off LBI earlier today has ended as reports come in that the emergency was unfounded.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy told Jersey Shore Online.com, “at 11:30 a.m. we received one 911 phone call stating a para sailor or small plane, a glider went down a half mile from the coast. The only thing I’ve been told since is that the search has been called off.”
According to NJ.Com, the 911 caller identified themselves and provided contact information which led to boats, helicopters and individuals combing a wide area offshore for an hour and a half.
Responders included New Jersey State Police and Coast Guard helicopters participating in the search.
The search was called off by 1 p.m. with responders starting to pack up their equipment by 1:15 p.m.
New Jersey State Police officials confirmed they were assisting with the recovery of an aircraft off the coast of LBI, but no other information was immediately available.
There were no inclement weather conditions at the time of the incident. There were no storms or major wind gusts reported off the shore.
