Search for missing aircraft in B.C. resumes, declared 'major' search and rescue effort

The search for a missing aircraft in central B.C. resumed Saturday morning, and has been declared a "major search and rescue" effort by local authorities.

The aircraft, identified as a Piper Warrior, originally departed from Lethbridge, Alta., on Thursday. It stopped in Cranbrook, B.C., to refuel, but failed to reach its final destination in Kamloops.

RCMP have identified the pilot as Alex Simons, 21, of Kamloops and the passenger as Sidney Robillard, 24, of Lethbridge.

Crews from CFB Comox began the search on Thursday until dark. The search was resumed on Friday, but eventually hampered by weather conditions. 

A search headquarters has now been established at the Kelowna airport. Two Buffalo fixed-wing planes and two Cormorant helicopters have been deployed to search the area.

Challenging terrain, search conditions

Captain Gregory Clarke, the air search and rescue coordinator with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria, said there have been no sightings of the plane so far.

"The terrain is very challenging, with convective cloud activity, thunderstorms and rain, and really windy conditions on the day of the planned flight as well as since we've been searching."

Clarke said that the search area currently spans 686 square kilometres, an area too vast to send in ground crews.

Turbulent search conditions and lingering snow have also made it difficult to spot the plane from the air.

Roland Morton, the president of Excel Flight Training, confirmed that Simons graduated from the flight school and had rented the aircraft.

"We can confirm the aircraft C-GDTK is owned by the flight school, and was rented from us by Alex Simons, for this trip." he wrote in a statement.

"At this point we are hopeful for a good outcome, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the missing folks."

With files from Jeffrey Sze and The Canadian Press