Dockweiler State Beach (Los Angeles, California)

 beach, state park

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The closest beach to LAX stretches for four miles from El Segundo north to Playa Del Rey. In addition to the normal amenities, Dockweiler State Beach accommodates overnight campers with fire pits and RV campsites with reservations. Other special features of this beach include bike rentals, a bike path, fishing and scuba diving. But perhaps the best and most surprising feature is the quiet and solitude that can be found here despite its proximity to such a large airport.

On August 28, 2000 a burst of flames and falling pieces made a big impression on people who were biking and picnicking at Dockweiler State Beach on a sunny day when an Amsterdam-bound KLM 747 with 429 people aboard blew an engine during takeoff causing a burst of flames and falling metal debris. The airplane appeared to have sucked a bird into an engine on the right side upon takeoff at 4:35 p.m., causing three pieces of the engine's cover to blow off and drop metal debris on the beach

articles.latimes.com/2000/aug/28/local/me-11501