Emergency search for missing man in plane crash will continue until sundown, official says
The search began on Tuesday when an Air Tractor AT-802 crashed 240 kilometres east of St. John's at around 8:40 a.m that morning. Wednesday's search involves the Canadian Coast Guard, a Hercules aircraft and a Cormorant helicopter, according to JRCC Lt.-Cmdr. Len Hickey.
"The intent is to carry on with search until sundown tonight. At that time, all assets involved in the search are going to return to base and the case is going to be turned over to the RCMP as a missing persons [investigation]," Hickey told CBC News Wednesday afternoon.
He added the decision to hand the investigation to police is based on survivability modelling of the crash.
"Normally it's policy by JRCC to go well past what would be expected for someone to survive in this scenario," Hickey said. "When they're confident that they've certainly been out there searching well past the chance that the person would survive, then it's passed on."
This missing man is from Spain, Hickey said, and was piloting the plane he recently purchased from the United States. The plane was destined for the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal.
"He was flying that aircraft up the eastern seaboard. The intent was for the last touch point in North America to be St. John's, and then they were going to make the hop across the Atlantic," Hickey said.
Searchers found an oil slick on the water near the crash site Tuesday. Hickey said it's too early to tell if it — or the crash — was caused by a mechanical issue with the plane.
Search conditions had improved on Wednesday, he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Passenger treated for injuries after Harbour Cruise ferry runs aground near Vancouver
Social Sharing One person injured after a ferry boat hit rocks in the water just off the coast of West Vancouver late Sunday morning had to be treated by medical services. The Harbour Princess, operated by Harbour Cruises Ltd., struck rocks east of Point Atkinson near Lighthouse Park just before noon, prompting a mayday call, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria. In a statement to CBC News, Capt. Pedram Mohyeddin with the rescue centre said a Canadian Coast Guard aircraft and three coast guard boats were dispatched to the scene, along with the Vancouver Police Department's marine unit and many civilian boats that answered the mayday. The JRCC says one injured person was airlifted to B.C. Emergency Health Services by hovercraft before being transferred to the care of the B.C. Ambulance Service. The cause of the incident is not yet known. CBC News has reached out to B.C. Emergency Health Services on the extent of the passenger's injury. In a separate statement, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) Station 1 in West Vancouver said the vessel had 58 people on board when it ran aground. RCMSAR says search and rescue technicians boarded the vessel to assess both the injured passengers and the vessel's condition. They determined it was safest to keep uninjured passengers aboard and escort the ship back to Coal Harbour. Shane Austin, spokesperson for RCMSAR Station 1, said the incident had the "makings of a very difficult situation" and commended all units that came to assist. Harbour Cruises Ltd. has not yet responded to a request for comment. The company's website says the vessel has a capacity of 180 passengers.
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
One transferred to BC ambulance after Harbour Cruise ferry runs aground in Vancouver
VANCOUVER - One person was transferred to the care of the BC Ambulance service after a ferry boat hit rocks in the water just off the coast of Vancouver. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says it heard a mayday distress call from the Harbour Princess — a ferry boat operated by Harbour Cruises Ltd. — around 11:30 on Sunday morning after the boat ran aground near Point Atkinston.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
One transferred to BC ambulance after Harbour Cruise ferry runs aground in Vancouver
VANCOUVER – One person was transferred to the care of the BC Ambulance service after a ferry boat hit rocks in the water just off the coast of Vancouver. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says it heard a mayday distress call from the Harbour Princess — a ferry boat operated by Harbour Cruises Ltd. — around 11:30 on Sunday morning after the boat ran aground near Point Atkinston. The rescue centre says it dispatched emergency services, including one Coast Guard aircraft and three coast guard boats, to the scene. It says one person was transported to the BC Ambulance service by aircraft and that it believes one other person sustained minor injuries. The rescue centre says the Harbour Princess was escorted back into Vancouver's harbour under it's own power and has returned to its Coal Harbour berth. The rescue centre did not say how many people were on board, but Harbour Cruise's website says the Harbour Princess can fit 180 passengers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2025.
