WORLD NEWS | Plane bound for Hawaii crashes in Pacific Ocean near Northern California, 2 killed

HALF MOON BAY (USA) , May 22 (AP) — Two people were killed when a small plane bound for Hawaii crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Northern California, federal officials said Sunday.

The Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otter crashed in water about 64 kilometers off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, around 2:15 p.m. Saturday, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement.

Read also | Lion attack: Police recover body parts at scene of zoo owner mauled to death by lions while feeding in Slovakia

The U.S. Coast Guard spotted the submerged plane “and confirmed that the pilot and co-pilot were fatally injured,” the statement said. They were the only people on board, officials said.

The FAA said the turboprop was en route from Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, to Honolulu.

Read also | Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives an exemplary welcome in Papua New Guinea, with Prime Minister James Marape touching his feet (watch video).

The DHC-6-400 Twin Otter is a multipurpose aircraft that seats 19 passengers, according to the Virgin Airways website.

The crew is working to recover the plane. The NTSB and FAA will investigate.

Half Moon Bay is a coastal community about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of San Francisco. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)