Missing plane believed found, according to Bossier parish authorities

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) - Bossier sheriff’s deputies have confirmed they have found the plane that went down Thursday in about 16 feet of water in Red River.

The site is roughly a half-mile south of Interstate 220 just north of Shreveport’s Downtown Airport and just off Wells Island Road, sheriff’s Lt. Bill Davis said Friday.

Caddo 911 received a call about 11:21 a.m. from the approach tower at Downtown Airport saying it had lost contact with a small plane.

Crews have searched by land, water and air in hopes of finding the plane.

According to a post Thursday afternoon by Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, its marine patrol used electronic equipment to find what they believe could be the aircraft fuselage in the water.

Federal crews were to be on the scene Friday morning to work with local authorities on the plane’s recovery.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that the private, single-engine plane took off after 10:37 a.m. destined for Vernon, Texas .

“We don’t know exactly know where the plane is,” said Caddo Parish Sherriff Steve Prator around 5 p.m. Thursday in an interview with KSLA News 12′s Jeff Ferrell. “We have a good indication that it may be in the river. We had some debris and some spoilage that has floated up.”

Because of the river’s water level and how swift the strength of the current - divers cannot be deployed at this time.

Officials are waiting for guidance from the federal government on the best way to handle this, Prator said.

Caddo deputies are actively involved in a search for a single engine aircraft in the north Caddo-Bossier area. The...
Posted by Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office on Thursday, February 28, 2019

Bossier’s drone unit and marine patrol are taking part in the search along with deputies on foot, he said.

Also joining the search are members of the Bossier City Police Department, the Benton Fire Department and other agencies, Davis added.

"We're keeping it as loose as we can. We just aren't certain of anything quite yet," Sheriff Prator.

Prator added that it’s unknown how many people, aside from the pilot, were on the plane. However, it’s believed one other person was on the plane.

Searching For Possible Downed Aircraft (Video footage of our Bossier Sheriff's Office Drone Patrol initiating a launch) Bossier Sheriff's Office Drone Patrol unit is searching for a possible downed aircraft near the I-220 and Red River area. Caddo 911 received a call from the Shreveport Approach Tower earlier to say that they had lost contact with a small plane. Bossier Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol, along with deputies on foot, are also searching the area. Joining in the search are Caddo Sheriff's Office, Bossier City Police Department, and Benton Fire Department, as well as other agencies. We have no indication that somebody spotted an actual aircraft going down, just that the tower had lost contact with the aircraft. Video is of our Bossier Sheriff's Office Drone Patrol unit initiating a launch here off of West Viking Drive near I-220. Deputy Ryan Buttenob is the pilot, and Deputy Kelly Downey is the safety observer. Obviously, this scene is moving quickly, and we will update you as soon as we can. At this point, no aircraft has been spotted.
Posted by Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office on Thursday, February 28, 2019

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