The search for two missing men and their airplane was officially called off earlier this afternoon.
The decision to suspend the search was made by the search master based in Belleville in concert with JRCC Trenton. The Canadian Aeronautical and Maritime Search manual provided them the direction to make the decision.
Richard Gough, the Air Task Force commander in the Sault, says given survivability models, they decided to suspend the search after covering all of the high probability search areas multiple times.
“At this time, we’ve exhausted all leads,” Gough said. “We’ve searched the area to its completion with nothing found. If there was a new lead, it could possibly spark a further search. But at this point we’re handing it over to the OPP as a missing persons case.”
One helicopter was sent out this morning to check some targets of interest, but there was nothing found, marking the final search in what turned out to be a 10-day mission.
Search and rescue have been in touch with the loved ones of the two missing men throughout the entire process, and extend their thoughts to the families who must navigate through this difficult time.
“We’ve been in constant contact since the beginning of the search with the families and they’re understandably upset,” Gough said. “They’ve been supportive of our efforts, and I think they’re grateful seeing how much we’ve poured into this search over the last week and a half or so. The search team continues to think about the families and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
