The following images were taken using the RUDE's Klein 5000 Side Scan Sonar.
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On Wednesday morning, June 4th,2003 in Long Island Sound, the RUDE was conducting side scan sonar operations, on a westerly heading 6 miles north west of Port Jefferson, New York. We found ourselves in a meeting situation with a 40 foot Suffolk County Police boat (Suffolk Marine Delta), which was on an easterly heading. We informed them that we were conducting SSS operations. They replied that they also were conducting SSS operations and were looking for a plane that had gone down in the water near our present position. They asked us to let them know if we found anything that resembled a plane.
Twenty minutes later we found the plane. We did a couple of passes with the side scan in high resolution and then called Suffolk Marine Delta. They rafted up along side the RUDE and came aboard to observe the imagery. They were surprised and amazed by our results so we made plans for a joint dive operation. The RUDE marked the spot with an anchor and float and readied our divers. Three RUDE divers entered the water at 1530 and conducted a 35 foot circle search around the anchor in 96 feet of water with very low visibility. No plane was found. Shortly after the divers exited the water a thunderstorm moved through the area canceling dive operations for the remainder of the day.
The next morning the RUDE repositioned the anchor and two RUDE divers descended at 1015. They touched down directly on the plane. Suffolk Marine Delta arrived on sight at 1040 and when the RUDE divers surfaced the RUDE dive boat went alongside to brief the police dive team.
The police explained that the circumstances surrounding the downing of the plane were suspicious and asked us not to advertise that we had found the plane. They informed us that the pilot was a very experienced military pilot and reportedly had a large sum of money on his person when pulled from the water by the tug. They also said that the FAA and FBI were investigating the incident. On June 6th,2003 the RUDE received word that the investigation was closed and a press release was issued.
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| URL: http://www..pmc.noaa.gov/plane.htm Updated: APRIL 2004 |