Date:  Monday, October 08, 2007

Contact: Nisha Marvel, WSDOT Aviation Communications, (360) 651-6310
Tina Wilson, Public Information Officer, Emergency Management, (509) 574-1900

Updated:  5 p.m. 

YAKIMA - The search continues in the White Pass area for a missing Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft with a reported 10 people on board. The plane left Boise, Idaho around 7 p.m. yesterday and was headed to Shelton, Washington. Late yesterday evening, a person in the White Pass area reported seeing a low flying aircraft and hearing a crash. Several hours later, the co-owner of the missing aircraft notified emergency personnel that the plane was overdue and that she was unable to reach the people on board.

While no emergency signal has been detected, teams have used radar information and the eyewitness account to pinpoint the search area southwest of Rimrock Lake.

Since early this morning, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has been operating its search base at the Yakima Airport. Yakima County Search and Rescue and Washington Air Search and Rescue are assisting in the search using volunteer aircraft, including two helicopters. About 50 people are participating in the effort.

Family members of the passengers can call Red Cross Family Support at: (509) 834-2660.

Today's search is expected to last until just after dark, if no additional leads are found.  Efforts are expected to resume tomorrow morning.

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