Body located in search for single-engine plane reported missing near Ocean City
OCEAN CITY, Md. - Authorities say a body has been located after a single-engine plane was reported missing off the coast of Ocean City on Thursday.
Maryland State Police said federal officials notified them just after 10 a.m. on Thursday that the aircraft, a four-passenger plane, left Martin State Airport Wednesday evening en route to Ocean City but had not returned. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Cessna 172.
A search of the area turned up an oil slick and debris consistent with an aircraft in the ocean about 1.5 miles from the Ocean City Airport, according to police.
Just before 5 p.m. Thursday, search crews recovered a body in an underwater debris field located five miles away from the initial oil slick. Police say the body was found among pieces of the plane and apparently had on the same clothing that the pilot who left Martins Airport Wednesday was described to be wearing.
The body will be transported to the medical examiner's office in Baltimore for an autopsy.
Police said the search for other passengers ended at 6 p.m. Thursday and the search will resume "once the impending storm passes and the ocean conditions permit."
Maryland State Police said it is unknown how many people were onboard the plane. However, the U.S. Coast Guard said they believe two people were onboard. They were identified by officials as Banica Richard Robinson and Marcson Ngwa.
Coast Guard officials said the plane was seen practicing "touch-and-gos" at the Ocean City Municipal Airport Wednesday evening.