Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a plane crash in North Humboldt Bay, Thursday morning a single-engine Cessna plane carrying one pilot had crashed into the Bay after losing visibility in the fog attempting to land at Murray Field.
At approximately 7:10 am, the Eureka Police Department relayed a distress call to Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay from a commercial pilot after his plane crashed.
A Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 29-foot Response-Boat Small-boat crew, as well as a Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a small boat crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado responded.
At approximately 7:50 am., the Dolphin helicopter crew and a Humboldt Bay Port Authority small boat arrived on scene and the pilot was located atop his overturned plane and was pulled out of the water by Humboldt Bay Fire personnel no reports of injuries.
Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay watchstanders also issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast requesting assistance from mariners in the area and notifying them of the hazard to navigation.
“The environment in the Humboldt Bay area can be very unforgiving and dangerous to both boats and aircraft, which is why a strong network of maritime partners is so important,” said Capt. Clint Schlegel, the Sector Humboldt Bay deputy commander. “We are extremely grateful to the Humboldt Bay Port Authority for rescuing the aircraft pilot. In cases like this, every second counts and their actions prevented this incident from taking a tragic turn.”
The pilot was safely transferred to emergency medical services at Woodley Island Marina.
