SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Emergency Management rescue crews are searching Sunday for survivors of a possible downed Cessna single-engine aircraft, reportedly overdue since Friday afternnon, in waters off the southeastern coast of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard Watchstanders received notification at approximately 12p.m. Sunday from a family member, who reported the overdue aircraft was returning to Ponce from Culebra Island with five people onboard.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the aircraft passengers on the disappearance of their loved ones,” said. Capt. Marc Stegman, Sector San Juan acting commander.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to search for any potential radar tracklines that would possibly capture the flight path of the missing aircraft. Federal Aviation Admistration officials have provided radar track information that may be linked to the missing aircraft depicting the route from Culebra Island to Puerto Rico Friday afternoon with a last known position, approximately one mile off the Yabucoa shoreline.
Coast Guard rescue crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Key Biscayne and Coast Guard Boat Station San Juan response boats were diverted to Yabucoa Sunday afternoon to search for survivors and any signs of a possible crash site. Puerto Rico State Emergency Management Agency rescue crews are also searching.
Any persons who may have any information related to this incident should contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.
