American and Briton missing after Mexico light plane crash

Pilot and two others survived when Cessna 180 went into the ocean off Las Glorias beach in Jalisco state

The Guardian, Agence France-Presse, Guadalajara, 15 May 2015

A Cessna 180 type light plane. Photograph: Jerry Gunner/Wikimedia archive

One British citizen and one American were missing after their plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Vallarta in western Mexico, officials said.

The crash occurred last week in the popular resort area and the two had been missing since, local fire chief and head of civil protection Carlos Gomez said.

The Cessna 180, often used used for skydiving, came down on 7 May about half a mile from the coast of Las Glorias beach in Jalisco state.

Wreckage from the aircraft was pinpointed about 1,000m (3,281ft) below sea level, Gomez said.

“It is still unknown whether the bodies of missing people are inside the fuselage,” Gomez added.

A Mexican pilot and two US citizens survived the accident. The Americans had minor injuries.

The area has been battered by strong waves in recent days as a result of ocean swells.