Coast Guard suspends search for military contractor Learjet missing off coast of California

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search on Thursday for three people after a Learjet went missing off the coast of Southern California the day before.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said a debris field was located just southwest of San Clemente Island after contact was lost with the plane.

The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection all provided assets, combing an area of 334 square miles.

The NTSB tweeted on Wednesday night that it was investigating the crash of a Learjet 36A near San Clemente Island, which is about 65 miles off the coast of San Diego.

Multiple sources reported that the aircraft belonged to Phoenix Air. The company’s website states that it is an FAA-certificated Part 135 company “with worldwide operating authority to provide passenger services, worldwide air ambulance services and high priority air cargo services, including the transport of explosives and most other dangerous goods.

“Phoenix Air’s military contracting division is the world’s leading provider of contracted airborne electronic warfare and weapons training/testing services for clients such as U.S. Department of Defense, NATO and various other foreign militaries and governments.”

An official with Naval Base Ventura County told the LA Times that the aircraft was a non-military contract passenger plane that had departed Naval Air Station Point Mugu, which is east of Los Angeles and about 90 miles north of the island, which has a naval auxiliary landing field.

The naval official said air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane, used for shuttle flights, about a mile away from the island.

The identities of those on board the flight had not been disclosed as of Thursday afternoon.