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Search for missing plane suspended
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Posted on Apr 06 2012
APRA HARBOR, Guam-The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search in Palau yesterday for three men aboard a Cessna airplane that went missing on Sunday.
Coast Guard, Palau government vessels, and a flotilla of local supporters covered a total of 9,000 square miles during the search for 58-year-old pilot Franklin Ohlinger, 47-year-old detective Willie Towai and 33-year-old police officer Earlee Decherong.
“A decision to suspend a search is never quick or easy,” said Capt. Casey White, Sector Guam commander. “We completed a thorough review of all available information and search activities to date, and took in account the large area we were able to search under good conditions with a large number of different resources. Ultimately, we made the tough decision to suspend the active Coast Guard search effort. Authorities in Palau have not stopped searching and Sector Guam will continue to support their efforts.”
Coast Guardsmen aboard a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and C-130 from Air Station Barbers Point, the Honolulu-based crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis, Palau’s Pacific Patrol Boat H.I. Remeliik, and a number of other local supporters came together for the search.
Anyone with additional information concerning this case should contact Coast Guard Sector Guam immediately at 671-564-USCG. (USCG)
