DOWAGIAC, Mich. (WWJ) – Authorities are searching for a pilot and homemade airplane that have been reported missing in Southwest Michigan.
The small, silver home-built aircraft took off on what was reportedly supposed to be a one-hour flight from Dowagiac in Cass County Sunday morning, but never returned.
Michigan Wing Civil Air Patrol officials say the plane left around 11 a.m. and was due back at the same airport around noon. Officials believe the pilot was the only person on board.
The pilot has not been identified.
The plane has a polished aluminum exterior and a “home-built airframe,” with a tail number of N569SX.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane head north after taking off from Dowagiac and CAP crews have been searching the areas north and northwest of the city, including Benton Harbor and South Haven.
Officials say extended searches may include areas of Van Buren, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Cass, Barrien and Allegan Counties.
For more information and updates on the search, CAP officials say to email Incident Commander Lt. Col. Mike Saile at IC@MIWG.CAP.GOV.