Update: Plane Found
ST. IGNACE -- Update: Aircrews from USCG Air Station Traverse City located the wreckage of the plane at around 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. It was found about 3 miles north of St. Ignace, and about 100 yards off the shore. Both men aboard the plane did not survive.
Aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse city received a signal from a 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitter. When they investigated the transmitted signal, they found the plane wreckage.
The aircrew passed the location to Michigan State Police and vectored land-based search crews to the wreckage. Crews confirmed it was the missing plane and that both men aboard were dead.
The cause of the accident is not known at this time.
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Coast Guard units are searching Lake Huron and the surrounding area for a missing plane with two men aboard, including an Amazon.com executive.
The plane left St. Ignace Saturday night, just before 8:00 p.m. and was headed for Mackinaw Island. The flight is only 4.5 miles and should of only taken about six minutes.
So when the plane didn't reach it's destination by 10:00 p.m. the search and rescue mission immediately started.
Boat crews and aircrews have been actively searching Lake Huron and also the surrounding land.
The missing men have been identified as Tom Phillips, who is in his fifties and Joe Pann who is in his late twenties.
According to 7&4's sister station WDIV in Detroit, Phillips is an executive for Amazon.com and has a summer house on Mackinac Island.
The Coast Guard says its crews and other federal, state and local agencies are involved in the search of northern Lake Huron. It says the plane is a Piper Saratoga.
7&4 News will keep you updated as any new information is released.
