VIDEO: Former Santa Monica mayor died after small plane crashes on beach

Former Mayor of Santa Monica Rex Minter died after a small plane crash-landed south of the popular beach, authorities reported. 

The single-engine Cessna 150 in which Minter was a passenger took off from Santa Monica airport at about 3 p.m. on Thursday and was headed to Malibu. 

The pilot reported engine trouble and tried to turn back to the airstrip. However, he decided to make an emergency landing, according to the flight record reported by KCBS-TV. 

In a recording between the pilot and air traffic control, a controller warns the pilot that “landing on the beach will be at your own risk."

“I wish I had another choice," the pilot replied.

A video of the incident shows the plane approaching the beach to land, but hits the water at the shoreline, causing it to flip over just south of the Santa Monica Pier. 

Video of that plane crash in Santa Monica pic.twitter.com/PSUn15b304

— Downtown LA Scanner (@DowntownLAScan) December 23, 2022

Firefighters responded to the scene and removed the two men from the plane. The pilot was taken to the hospital. 

Minter’s death was confirmed by the City of Santa Monica and current Mayor Gleam Davis. 

Minter, 95, was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 1955. He served as mayor of Santa Monica between 1963 and 1967 and later as city attorney for Arcadia and as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. 

“The City is grateful for Mr. Minter’s public service and we join his family in mourning his passing, the city said in a news release. “Flags in front of City Hall will be lowered to half-staff and a City Council meeting in the new year will be adjourned in honor of Minter’s service.”