Search Continues for Missing Plane in Lake Erie

The third day of search and recovery operations is under way for the twin-engine Cessna that disappeared over Lake Erie late on Dec. 29. More than 100 pieces of debris have been discovered so far, many of which appear to be connected to the missing plane.

“We want to remind everyone that this is an active investigation,” Police Chief Calvin Williams said in a prepared statement. The Division of Police is heading up the search and working with at least 10 other agencies. “If you see something that could be debris from the plane, we are asking people to avoid touching it, and to call the Division of Police immediately [at 216-621-1234].”

John T. Fleming, the CEO of Columbus-based Superior Beverage Group had taken his family (his wife and two sons), as well as a neighbor and the neighbor’s daughter, to the Thursday night Cavs game. They departed from Burke Lakefront Airport and slipped off radar sometime around 11:30 p.m.

This article appears in Dec 28, 2016 – Jan 3, 2017.