Three people died after a jet crashed off California's San Clemente Island early this week, their employer Phoenix Air has confirmed, adding that they were taking part in a U.S. Navy training exercise when the accident occurred.
The three were all flight crew of a Learjet 36 from Phoenix Air. The plane went down into the water off San Clemente Island in Southern California at about 7:40 a.m. Wednesday local time, Xinhua news agency reported.
Learjet 36 is an American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft manufactured by Learjet between 1973 and 1993.
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San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California, is owned by the Navy and has a military airstrip, training facilities and the Navy's only remaining ship-to-shore live firing range.
According to the company, the plane took off from Point Mugu, a Navy facility on the mainland, and crashed about one nautical mile from San Clemente Island. It was one of two Phoenix Air Learjets participating in a Navy training exercise, and the other aircraft landed safely. Both aircraft were flying in a military restricted area.
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Phoenix Air is an aviation charter operator and government and military contractor based at the Cartersville-Bartow County Airport northwest of Atlanta, Georgia.
