Gulf Shores, United States: Two people were killed after a small private aircraft crashed into Bon Secour Bay near Gulf Shores on the evening of March 7, 2026, triggering a large multi-agency search and recovery operation in coastal Baldwin County.
Authorities said emergency responders received a report of a possible aircraft crash shortly before 7 p.m. local time west of Gulf Shores International Airport. Responding units moved toward the aircraft’s last known radar position, where debris from a small plane was located in the water.
First responders later recovered the bodies of two individuals believed to have been on board the aircraft. Officials confirmed that no additional passengers were found during search operations in the surrounding area.
The aircraft involved is believed to be a single-engine Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, though authorities have not yet formally confirmed the aircraft registration or the identities of the victims.
Emergency response teams from several agencies participated in the operation, including the Gulf Shores Police Department, Gulf Shores Fire Rescue, Orange Beach Police Department, Oyster Bay Fire Department, Daphne Search and Rescue, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Search crews deployed boats, drones, and helicopters to locate wreckage and scan the surrounding waters.
Investigators said search operations resumed the following day, when teams used sonar equipment to map the wreckage field on the floor of the bay and locate additional parts of the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the crash, with assistance from local authorities. Officials have asked the public to report any debris found in the area but warned against collecting or disturbing potential evidence.
Authorities have not yet released details about the aircraft’s flight path, origin, or the circumstances leading up to the crash. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
