Authorities confirm plane reported missing near Moab has been located

Undated photo of a small airplane that was reported missing near Moab, Utah on June 30, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Grand County Sheriff's Office, St. George News

MOAB — Officials have announced that a small airplane with two people aboard that was reported missing Sunday afternoon in Grand County has been located in San Juan County.

An announcement posted on Facebook Sunday evening by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office stated that dispatchers were notified of the overdue plane at 4:41 p.m. It had reportedly left Moab at 8 a.m. Sunday and was expected back by noon.

“A search of volunteers in private planes was conducted this afternoon, ending at dark,” the sheriff’s office statement read, adding that a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter crew was continuing the search Sunday night and again Monday morning.

A statement from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office released Monday at 9:20 a.m. said that crews have confirmed that the missing plane has been found in San Juan County.

Grand County Sheriff’s Office originally said it is working with DPS and the Civil Air Patrol in the organization of this search and that air restrictions may be imposed.

“For efficient and safe search procedures, we ask that any private pilot who has a plane and wishes to participate, (to) contact the Grand County Sheriff’s Office at 435-259-8115 to be included in any additional search area assignments as they are needed,” the statement read. “We appreciate your cooperation in this multi-agency effort and will post updates as they become available.”

Officials also shared a photo of the missing red-and-white fixed-wing Carbon Cub plane, which is classified as an experimental aircraft and is listed online as being registered to a Moab drilling company.

Following the announcement that the plane had been located, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office asked that any volunteer pilots cease search activities at this time and they will be posting updates as they become available.

This is a developing story.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2019, all rights reserved.

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