Coast Guard finds plane wreckage off Florida coast

FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA - The wreckage of a twin-engine Cessna that took off from St. Simons Island, Ga., was found off the Florida coast, officials said Sunday.<br> <br> The Cessna, owned by Environmental Services, was on a whale monitoring mission when it was reported overdue Sunday night, Coast Guard officials said.<br> <br> The Coast Guard found the plane&#39;s locator beacon around 9:30 p.m., about eight miles east of Fernandina Beach.<br> <br> Officials said the plane had taken off from St. Simons Island and was scheduled to return there. Early reports indicated it was carrying four people, including the pilot, for its whale watch mission.<br> <br> A spokesman said searchers found &#34;a backpack, some life jackets and some papers.&#34; A helicopter and two boats have been searching the debris field.<br> <br>

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