No Sign Yet of Plane Missing in Washington

"We have two single engine aircraft flying grid searches, and two helicopters. In addition we have a number of ground crews searching as well." - Nisha Marvel, Washington Transportation Dept.

Cessna 207 Caravan similar to the missing plane Photo courtesy: fortunecity.com

(SEATTLE, Wash.) - A small airplane has reportedly crashed on a flight between Idaho to Shelton, Washington. 10 people were aboard the Cessna 208 Caravan that left the ground in Boise at 7:00 PM.

Authorities became alarmed when the plane failed to return to Shelton as a flight plan indicated. Nisha Marvel, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, told Salem-News.com that a number of resources have been deployed to help located the missing aircraft.

"We have two single engine aircraft flying grid searches, and two helicopters. In addition we have a number of ground crews searching as well."

The Yakima County search and rescue team is now involved, Marvel added. She says the report of the downed plane came from a hunter who said he witnessed a low-lying plane and a possible crash. "The good news," she said, "is that we do have the general area pinpointed, so we know where to direct our resources."

Unfortunately however, no emergency sending beacon or signal has been detected. "There was no sign of distress, no sign of any kind that the airplane was experiencing a problem," she added.

Marvel says the Washington Department of Transportation has been coordinating the air search from the Yakima County Airport, several crews from there are also departing to search for the plane on foot.

The search area is in the central Washington Cascades.