The Coast Guard suspended the search for two missing aviators on Monday at 6 p.m. following a report of an overdue plane last seen Friday between St. Thomas and Culebra, Puerto Rico.
Missing are 33-year-old Carl Frederick Reichard Stubbe and 19-year-old Oswald Fuentes Roman, the agency said in a news release Monday night announcing the end of the search.
Officials from the Center of Radar Approach Control notified U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders at approximately 9:30 p.m., Friday, reporting they had lost the radar signal from a Cessna Skyhawk, six miles west of St. Thomas.
The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen and a Boat Forces Detachment St. Thomas rescue crew to initially search the area, according to the release.
The Cessna originally took off from Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico with intentions to make a practice approach in St. Thomas and return to Aguadilla, the Coast Guard reported.
“Suspending search efforts is one the hardest decisions to be made, but after saturating the search area with no signs of the downed aircraft, I’ve suspended the Coast Guard search pending further developments,” said Capt. Jose Diaz, commander, Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing passengers during this difficult time.”
Rescue crews searched approximately 6,387 square miles for a combined total of 45 hours, including members of St. Thomas Rescue.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two individuals onboard. We send our thanks to our agency partners who assisted in the search, along with private sector companies including V.I. Marine & Towing, and Playland Marine, who were kind enough to provide assistance,” the group’s Public Information Officer Chris Watson said in a release Tuesday morning.
“A significant area both above and below the water was searched by our crews including the use of side scan sonar equipment. Frustratingly, we have been unable to locate a debris field, or potential resting site,” Watson said, and urged anyone who sees potential debris in the coming days to report it immediately to 911, or the Coast Guard Sector San Juan.
Search and rescue crews included:
- Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
- Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City
- Coast Guard Cutter Confidence
- Coast Guard Station San Juan
- Coast Guard Auxiliary Air
- Civil Air Patrol
- Puerto Rico Police Department Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA)
- Coast Guard Boat Forces Detachment St. Thomas
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB)
Anyone with information related to this case may contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.
