WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A two-seater helicopter crashed into the Chesapeake Bay in the U.S. state of Maryland Saturday, local police said, adding that search and rescue was underway.

The crash took place Saturday afternoon, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police, who are trying to determine how many people were on board the aircraft.

Russ Davis of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said several boats and a dive team have been dispatched to help with the search and rescue. According to Davis, the site of the crash is about 1.2 km from the shore. The bay is reportedly more than 50 meters deep at the location.

The site of the crash is about 70 kilometers east of Washington D.C.