Los Angeles plane crash: Two bodies and wreckage of plane found following midair collision off coast

The coastguard suspended the search for survivors over the weekend

Rescue boats search for wreckage from two small planes that collided in midair and plunged into the ocean off of Los Angeles harbor (AP)

Two bodies and the wreckage of a small plane have been discovered by divers searching the water off the coast of Los Angeles for evidence of a midair collision, authorities have said.

It is believed that three people may have been killed on Friday after a plane piloted by a 72-year-old woman was seen on radar colliding with a craft carrying two men off San Pedro, just outside the Los Angeles harbour.

The plane carrying the men was a Beech 35 Bonanza and the second was a Citabria, said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration

Authorities have not released any identities, but the woman's husband identified her as Mary Falstrom of Torrance. Richard Falstrom said his wife, a long-time pilot, told him Friday that she was going on a plane ride to enjoy the sunny weather. Hours later came the news of the collision.

Richard Falstrom believes his wife died doing something that gave her great joy. "She loved flying. It was a passion," he told the Associated Press.

Richard Garnett, chief flight instructor with the Long Beach Flying Club, said the pilots practice in an area that is 10 to 20 square miles and at altitudes ranging from 1,000ft to 4,000ft. On a typical day, there will be three or four planes in the air at the same time.

“So with the amount of activity, actually, I think we’ve been fortunate,” he said. “We are really diligent. I don’t know why, what happened in this situation.”