Erratic plane over Gulf tracked by U.S. government crashes

A screen grab from FlightAware.com shows where the plane went wayward over the Gulf of Mexico

An unresponsive twin engine plane flying erratically over the Gulf of Mexico and tracked by the Air Force has crashed. Rescue crews are in route. Below are the events as they are unfolding:

4 ET Approximate arrival of Coast Guard water rescue team.

12:10 ET The plane went down  approximately 120 miles west of Tampa, Fla. The nose of the plane is reported to be submerged. The plane was registered to Lee H. Aviation in Wilmington, Del., according to a FAA report obtained by the Associated Press. The company specializes in corporate services.

9:30 ET Two F-15 fighters under the direction of  North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) out of 159th Fighter Wing in New Orleans, La, intercepted and monitored an unresponsive general aviation aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico. Upon intercepting the aircraft, the pilots reported the pilot was not responding to communications. They  make visual contact with the plane and report that the craft's windows were fogged over. NORAD notifies the Coast Guard 8th District watchstanders of an airplane flying erratically over the Gulf of Mexico.

A Cessna 421 departed Slidell, La., en route to Sarasota, Fla. A single pilot is thought to be on board.

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