UPDATE: Missing plane wreckage found in the Gulf of Mexico

VENICE, Fla. (WWSB) - The Venice Police Department has confirmed that an overdue aircraft has been located where it crashed in the Gulf of Mexico. The VPD confirmed that the wreckage of the plane was found by air assets approximately 1/3 of a mile west offshore, directly west of the Venice Municipal Airport.

The missing plane was located just after 2 p.m. after divers from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased juvenile within ht plane’s passenger area. According to the report, it is believed that a male pilot or passenger was also in the plane during the flight, but has not been found in the wreckage.

Search efforts are continuing for a potential missing male occupant and the search effort will continue until sunset and resume as conditions allow.

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Venice Police and Fire Department, along with other agencies, are investigating an airplane crash into the Gulf of Mexico. According to a report from The City of Venice, the crash happened 2.5 miles west of the Venice Fishing Pier.

The FAA is reporting the plane was a single-engine Piper PA-28 leaving the airport around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday with two people on board.

According to the report, the Federal Aviation Administration contacted VPD Sunday morning after a plane took off from Venice Municipal Airport and never arrived at its destination. The report also states that recreational divers found a body in the water and it could be connected to the plane crash.

Right now, no plane has been located and the report said the area will have increased activity with divers and marine units as the search continues.