ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Coast Guard suspended its search at 5:11 p.m. Monday for John Ree Payla, a 21 year-old Filipino crewman, reported missing from the 754-foot Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel Corona Infinity 40 miles north of Dutch Harbor Sunday.
Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak rescue crews conducted five searches using an HC-130 Hercules aircraft, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter covering approximately 1,479 square miles. The Corona Infinity and the fishing vessel Andronica had searched the area continually since Sunday.
The Coast Guard received a call from the crew of the vessel about 5:30 p.m. Sunday indicating that one of their crewman had gone missing and his uniform had been found on the back of the ship about 3 p.m.
The Coast Guard immediately diverted an Air Station Kodiak HH-65 Dolphin helicopter assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell and issued an urgent marine information broadcast encouraging vessels in the area to keep a look out for the man and assist if possible.
Weather in the area has been 30 mph winds, 11-foot waves, air temperature of 43 degrees Fahrenheit and a water temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Corona Infinity is a bulk coal carrier and was in transit to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, when they noticed the crewman had gone missing.
