Former astronaut William Anders who took iconic Earthrise photo dies in Washington plane crash

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shaded blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plunged into the waters off Washington's San Juan Islands. He was 90 years old. His son, Greg Anders, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.

THIS IS A LATEST UPDATE. Earlier AP story follows below.

Authorities are responding to the crash of a small plane Friday near the San Juan Islands in Washington state.

A report came in around 11:40 a.m. that an older model plane crashed into the water and sank near the north end of Jones Island, said San Juan County Sheriff Eric To fart.

Only the pilot was aboard the Beech A45 plane at the time, according to the Federal Aviation Association.

Peter said the sheriff's office, U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel were conducting search and rescue operations.

A team of divers was also heading toward the potential accident zone in the San Juan Channel, Peter said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the accident.