Coast Guard continues search for 3 missing near Cedar Key

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/13/2017 02:49 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Feb. 13, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Office: (727) 535-1437 ext. 2143
After Hours: (305) 965-4672

Coast Guard continues search for 3 missing near Cedar Key

The Coast Guard is continuing to search for three missing people aboard the pictured aircraft seven miles south of Cedar Key, Florida, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Coast Guard crews began searching for the people Sunday after the plane failed to arrive in Cedar Key en route from Brooksville, Florida. (Courtesy photo by Loet Kuipers)
27-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Florida, searches for three people who were aboard a missing aircraft seven miles south of Cedar Key, Florida, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017. Coast Guard crews began searching after the plane failed to arrive in Cedar Key en route from Brooksville, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard photo) 27-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Florida, searches for three people who were aboard a missing aircraft seven miles south of Cedar Key, Florida, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017. Coast Guard crews began the search after the plane failed to arrive in Cedar Key en route from Brooksville, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

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ST.PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard  continues to search Monday for three people missing aboard an aircraft that left Brooksville en route to Cedar Key Sunday.

Missing are Jasper Jerrels, 65, Hue Singletary and Jerrels' 17-year-old son.

The Coast Guard and partner agencies conducted seven searches, covering more than 147 square nautical miles.

At 5:21 p.m. Sunday, watch standers from Sector St. Petersburg received a report from the Flight Service Station Gainesville, stating a white with red and blue stripes, single-engine aircraft failed to arrive in Cedar Key by noon.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Air Station Clearwater and a 27-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Station Yankeetown launched and commenced the search.

At 9:06 a.m. a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine unit located an aircraft seat matching the description of the interior of the missing plane, and search and rescue crews located a small debris field. However, the plane has yet to be located. Citrus County marine units are using side scan sonar in the area.

Searching are personnel from Air Station Clearwater, Station Yankeetown, Sector St. Petersburg, Citrus County, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Levy County Fire and Rescue, and Cedar Key Fire and Rescue.

 

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