Search for ‘downed aircraft’ called off

A rescue search for an ultra-light aircraft that was reported down Sunday evening in the waters off Newport Beach has been called off as of Monday morning, a Coast Guard official said.

A 20-member Coast Guard team spent the night searching for an aircraft similar to a motorized paraglider about two miles off 32nd Street in Newport Beach, but the team found no one, said Coast Guard Lt. Junior Grade Tyler Stutin.

The Coast Guard used a helicopter, a 41-foot utility boat and an 87-foot coastal patrol boat for the search. Calls about the incident, which came about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, reported that an ultra-light aircraft was seen descending rapidly into the water, Stutin said.

The search lasted until 9:45 a.m. Monday.

— Mona Shadia