Cargo plane goes missing after taking off from Vancouver airport

UPDATE: Search and rescue crews have found the partial wreckage of the missing cargo plane in the North Shore mountains, but the two pilots remain missing.

EARLIER:

A search and rescue operation is underway after a cargo plane that took off from Vancouver International Airport failed to arrive at Prince George this morning.

According to the Vancouver Airport Authority, Carson Air Flight 66 lost contact with the NavCanada Flight Information Centre shortly after taking off from YVR at 6:43 a.m. It was scheduled to arrive at Prince George at 8 a.m.

Two passengers, both pilots, were onboard the SA-266 Metro aircraft carrying cargo.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre operated by the Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force has been activated.

Military aircraft have been deployed to search for the plane in Metro Vancouver’s local mountains, where the plane disappeared from radar about 10 minutes into its flight.

Carson Air cargo flight 66, using a SA-266 Metro aircraft, disappeared about 10 minutes after take off from Vancouver pic.twitter.com/tjI9cocEPt

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 13, 2015

 

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says wing and fuselage of missing Carson Air cargo plane located. Two pilots not located yet. @CKNW

— CKNW (@CKNW) April 14, 2015