'Unresponsive' pilot crashes in Gulf of Mexico

Apr 20, 2012 |

Washington

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A personal transport plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday after circling in an "unresponsive" flight pattern for several hours, US officials said.

The US Air Force had scrambled two F-15 fighter jets to intercept and monitor the Cessna 421 aircraft, which appeared to be flying with an unconscious pilot.

North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesman Lieutenant Al Blondin said the jets intercepted the "unresponsive aircraft" at about 8:45 am (1245 GMT).

"The windows were iced over but they were unable to see the pilot," US Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Bill Colclough told AFP.

He said the plane had been flying "erratically" about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Panama city, Florida.

"The pilot was the only person on board the plane," Coast Guard Captain Steve Lehman said in confirming the crash of the light, twin-engine aircraft.

The Coast Guard has deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters, along with US Coast Guard Cutter Coho and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol airplane.

"They will activate an extensive search area in the area where the plane was reported to be flying," Colclough said.

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