WENGNews writes, "AUTHORITIES SAY A SMALL PLANE CRASHED INTO THE WATERS NEAR THE VENICE PIER LAST NIGHT, BUT RESCUE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY VERY ROUGH SEAS AND GUSTY WINDS. WITNESSES SAY THE PLANE WENT DOWN AROUND 8:30PM, AND AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS ONE OF THREE TRAINING PLANES THAT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT DURING THE EVENING HOURS YESTERDAY. IT’S NOT KNOWN HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, AND DEBRIS FOUND LAST NIGHT NEAR THE PIER MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE DOWNED PLANE. THE COAST GUARD, VENICE POLICE, AND THE SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESUMED THEIR SEARCH AT 7AM THIS MORNING ALONG WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, AFTER HAVING TO CALL IT OFF AROUND MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT DUE TO THE ROUGH SURF AND HIGH WINDS. "
