SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (WWJ) - The bodies of two men were found among the wreckage of a downed plane in South Haven Township Wednesday morning, officials confirmed.
The South Haven Police Department said they were first contacted by the FAA based in Chicago regarding a missing aircraft around 11:30 p.m. on August 2.
FAA officials said a plane, identified as an Aerospace 600, took off from the South Haven Regional Airport earlier Tuesday morning and had not had contact with anyone since.
Police began to search for the missing aircraft, assisted by the FAA, Michigan State Police, Van Buren and Allegan County Sheriff's Department and the United States Air Force.
In the early morning hours of August 3, officials from MSP's Aviation Unit found the wreckage of a plane crash apporximently one mile north of the South Haven Regional Airport.
Police said both occupants were found deceased in the crash. The men, believed to be the 70-year-old owner of the plane from the Lawton area and a 70-year-old from the Wayland area who was instructing during the flight, were both experienced pilots and instructors.
The owner was earning his certification to fly the aircraft, officials said.
The investigation remains ongoing and has been turned over to the NTSB.
No other details were made available.
