Coast Guard suspends search for 3 aboard Navy plane that crashed into Pacific Ocean

Plane down near San Clemente Island

Three people were on board, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - Searchers on Wednesday found a debris field in the ocean about a mile southwest of San Clemente Island, where authorities were sent on a report that a Navy contractor's aircraft went down in the area with three people aboard.

The plane - a Phoenix Air Learjet owned by the U.S. Navy - plunged into the Pacific Ocean about one mile southwest of the island, which is within Los Angeles County just southwest of Catalina Island.

Officials announced Thursday the search for the three people on board was suspended.

The aircraft used by a Navy contractor departed from the Ventura County area, said Drew Verbis, spokesperson for Naval Base Ventura County on the coast northwest of Los Angeles.

According to the Coast Guard, a crew from Air Station San Diego launched aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter for the search and rescue operation.

The search involved personnel from the Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report.