Earlier today, the United States Coast Guard announced late Monday that search operations for a small aircraft carrying three individuals have been terminated. The missing persons include a resident of Haines and two residents of Yakutat. The aircraft vanished from radar on Saturday while en route from Juneau to Yakutat. Since then the plane has still not been found.
Extensive search efforts were conducted throughout Southeast Alaska on Monday in response to a report of the overdue aircraft on Saturday. According to Lieutenant Commander Mike Salerno, spokesperson for the 17th Coast Guard District, the pilot, Samuel Wright of Haines, departed Juneau on Saturday afternoon in a 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza accompanied by passengers Hans Munich and Tanya Hutchins, both residents of Yakutat.
A friend of one of the occupants reported the aircraft overdue on Saturday evening after tracking its progress online and observing that the radar signal ceased near Mount Crillon in the Fairweather Range. Lieutenant Commander Salerno emphasized that the flight was not a commercial operation.
Coast Guard assets, including helicopters, planes, and boats, were deployed to the search area on Saturday. Weather conditions at the time of the aircraft’s last known position were reported to be adverse, with fog, rain, and strong winds prevailing in the region.