Coast Guard suspends search for downed aircraft 221 miles northeast of Bahamas

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/25/2019 11:26 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: 305-415-6683
After Hours: 786-367-7649
7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends search for downed aircraft 221 miles northeast of Bahamas

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Coast Guard C-130 aircraft number 1708 waits to taxi to the active runway at Air Station Clearwater in preparation for a scheduled flight June 12, 2007. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. C. T. O'Neil)

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MIAMI — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a downed aircraft Saturday approximately 221 miles northeast of Marsh Harbor, Bahamas.

Two Florida Air National Guard F-15 fighter aircrafts witnessed the plane crash in the ocean.

Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders were notified by Miami Mission Control of a non-responsive pilot traveling from St. Louis, Missouri to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in a 2001 twin-engine Cessna Citation aircraft at approximately 5 p.m. Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew to respond to the incident.

MMC stated the aircraft was reported to only have a pilot aboard. 

The Coast Guard conducted aerial searches concentrated in an area of 642 square nautical miles.

"Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we ever have to make, and we never make it lightly,” said Christopher Eddy, search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard 7th District. “We always want the best case scenario to happen and will continue to monitor for new information that could aid responders.”

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-USCG-