UPDATE: Long Beach Island Plane Crash Reports 'Unfounded'

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ — Reports of a downed plane off the coast of Long Beach Island on Thursday morning were unfounded, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office said.

The plane was initially reported one mile off the coast near 26th Street around 11:30 a.m., Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said.

U.S. Coast Guard crews searched the scene on jet skis and helicopters, Mastronardy said.

As of 12:45 p.m., officials told ABC7 News that they had not located a plane or any victims.

#BREAKING We have received a report of a plane crash off Long Beach Island, NJ. Coast Guard has diverted a helo from Air Station Atlantic City and crews from Station Atlantic City and Station Barnegat Light. Updates to follow.
— USCG Mid-Atlantic (@uscgmidatlantic) June 17, 2021