Mon, Aug 25, 2008
Citation Disappeared Last Week Off Coast Of Dominican
Republic
Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police and Dominican Republic Navy
rescue crews suspended their search last week for signs of a
business jet believed downed off the southern coast of the
Dominican Republic.
Officials report the Cessna Citation 501 -- FAA registry N223LC
-- failed to arrive to its final destination in San Juan, Puerto
Rico the night of August 18. Still missing is the Citation's pilot,
Antonio Fernandez, who took off from Las Americas International
Airport at approximately 8:26 pm that evening.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan Joint Rescue Sub Center controllers
received a call at 12 am August 19 from Marta Fernandez, wife of
the missing pilot, who reported that her husband had not arrived to
Puerto Rico from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Coast Guard controllers launched HH-65 Dolphin helicopters from
Air Station Borinquen Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and diverted Coast
Guard Cutter Key Largo to initiate the search for the missing
pilot. The Coast Guard Attaché in the Dominican Republic
said Dominican aviation authorities last recorded the missing
aircraft on radar at approximately three miles south of Santo
Domingo, where crews focused their subsequent search efforts.
The combined crews spent three days conducting 17 searches over
an area stretching nearly 7,700 nautical miles square before
suspending the search Friday night. At this time, there's no word
on whether crews will resume the search.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of
Mr. Fernandez during this difficult time," said Capt. Eduardo Pino,
Sector San Juan Commander. "Coast Guard rescue crews aggressively
searched for three days in conjunction with our partners from the
Dominican Republic Navy and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of
Rapid Action."
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