San Diego

2 Men Found Dead in Downed Plane Discovered During Search for Missing Aircraft

Two men were found dead in the wreckage of a small plane discovered Thursday in a rugged part of Descanso.

A search and rescue team made their way to the downed plane, near Tule Springs and Conejos Valley Road east of the El Capitan Reservoir, at daylight, the San Diego Sheriff's Department said. 

On Friday, the medical examiner's office said two men - ages 77 and 36 - were found dead inside the plane. 

Their names have been withheld pending notification of family. 

The plane left from Gillespie Field in El Cajon but did not return Wednesday.

Hours after the plane failed to return, a plane making a steep descent was spotted via radar by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

The office then alerted the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. 

The men were traveling in a 1682G Champion 7KCAB certified aircraft, the medical examiner said.

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