MENA, AR (News Release) — Though aggressive efforts were undertaken by air and land, no leads were discovered today in the continued search for missing AFC pilot, Jake Harrell.
Five helicopters worked today to cover mountains along Jake’s flight route between Oden and Wickes. Helicopters are checking and re-checking areas from different directions, to ensure that all slopes and angles are covered.
Ground crews, too, traveled to locations connected to tips provided by local residents of possible plane sightings and/or aircraft sounds from Friday afternoon.
Every piece of credible information from residents has been investigated, documented, and placed on a map. Maps are also being created in layers to include area covered in flight, routes searched by ground, and locations of possible sightings.
Maps can be accessed by television screen so that all layers can be considered at once, by all levels of Incident Command.
Tomorrow’s weather continues to include a chance for precipitation and/or snow. Aircraft are promised, as are ground crews. Spirits remain high; all organizations and crews remain dedicated.
The Incident Command structure in Mena continues as a Unified Command effort with the following partners involved: statewide Arkansas Forestry Commission crews, U.S. Forest Service, Polk, Scott, and Montgomery Law Enforcement, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, local volunteer fire departments, the Red Cross, and the National Weather Service.
Five helicopters worked today to cover mountains along Jake’s flight route between Oden and Wickes. Helicopters are checking and re-checking areas from different directions, to ensure that all slopes and angles are covered.
Ground crews, too, traveled to locations connected to tips provided by local residents of possible plane sightings and/or aircraft sounds from Friday afternoon.
Every piece of credible information from residents has been investigated, documented, and placed on a map. Maps are also being created in layers to include area covered in flight, routes searched by ground, and locations of possible sightings.
Maps can be accessed by television screen so that all layers can be considered at once, by all levels of Incident Command.
Tomorrow’s weather continues to include a chance for precipitation and/or snow. Aircraft are promised, as are ground crews. Spirits remain high; all organizations and crews remain dedicated.
The Incident Command structure in Mena continues as a Unified Command effort with the following partners involved: statewide Arkansas Forestry Commission crews, U.S. Forest Service, Polk, Scott, and Montgomery Law Enforcement, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, local volunteer fire departments, the Red Cross, and the National Weather Service.
