The two people in the small plane that went missing Friday on a flight from Edmonton to Chilliwack are residents of Chilliwack.
“I understand the search is resuming with better weather conditions,” said Garry Atkins, general manager of the Chilliwack Airport.
The names of the occupants of the plane, who are from Chilliwack, will not be identified, out of respect for the family, said the airport official.
READ MORE: Plane went missing Friday
“We don’t know very much at this point,” said Atkins.
“It’s a mystery. Our hearts are with the family as we await news.”
The search by Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) with assistance from the Civil Aviation Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), included a Hercules search plane and a Cormorant helicopter over the weekend, but their efforts were hampered by cloudy conditions.
The base for CASARA searchers was Abbotsford at first, but it’s shifted to Merritt to be closer to the search area, north of Kamloops.
“We’re all hoping we’ll find that aircraft,” said Atkins.
Monday saw the search expanded with the help of four military aircraft and eight civilian planes.
Active #SAR UPDATE
— Victoria JRCC CCCOS (@VicJRCC_CCCOS) September 17, 2018
The search for an overdue 2 seat aircraft to Chilliwack on 14 Sep continues today with 4 @RCAF_ARC aircraft and 8 @CASARA_National aircraft.http://t.co/jH1EKQuI1Y pic.twitter.com/n16ZdclpaU
As long it’s safe to do so, with visibility, and there’s a chance of survival of the those on-board, the search will continue.
READ MORE: More military aircraft join search
The missing two-seater plane is a kit aircraft known as a Vans RV-6.
“It is a well known aircraft, and there are many of them flying,” said Atkins.
The search is being focused along Highway 5 in the region stretching from Clearwater to Valemont.
READ MORE: Another plane found recently
- With files from Canadian Press
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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