A major search and rescue operation has been launched after a small plane carrying two people vanished without a trace over Lake Champlain, Vermont. The single-engine Piper PA-32 disappeared from radar on Monday evening, sparking an urgent multi-agency response.
The aircraft was en route from Franklin County State Airport to Jaffrey Airport in New Hampshire when it lost contact with air traffic control. The last known position was approximately 4,000 feet above the vast body of water that borders the US and Canada.
Urgent Search Underway
The US Coast Guard, alongside state police from New York and Vermont, has deployed significant assets to scour the area. The search effort, described as challenging due to the lake's depth and size, includes:
- Coast Guard helicopters and boats
- State police dive teams and sonar equipment
- Local law enforcement agencies
Authorities have been tight-lipped about the identities of the two people on board, pending notification of their next of kin. The weather conditions at the time of the disappearance are being reviewed as part of the investigation.
A History of Mystery
The disappearance has sent a chill through the local community, not least because Lake Champlain has a long and often mysterious history. The area is famously home to 'Champ', a mythical lake monster akin to the Loch Ness Monster.
More tangibly, the lake's deep, cold waters have presented challenges for recovery operations in the past. The current mission is a race against time as authorities work to determine the aircraft's fate.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the aircraft is urged to contact the Coast Guard immediately. The aviation community and locals await any development with bated breath, hoping for a miracle amidst the mystery.
