Search operation continues for missing plane, victims

CLEVELAND — Search-and-recovery efforts for a missing plane that disappeared over Lake Erie on Thursday began today at daylight, the city reported on its blog.

The city also reports that today’s weather conditions “are allowing continued search by water and shoreline,” but that the city’s police helicopter is not in use.

Numerous agencies are taking part in the search for the missing Cessna 525 Citation that disappeared shortly after taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport Thursday night. Aboard the plane were six passengers, including Mahoning Valley natives John and Sue Fleming, a married couple that graduated from Boardman High School.

John T. Fleming is the CEO of Youngstown-started Superior Beverage Group.

According to the city of Cleveland, six vessels with four dive teams are searching Lake Erie today. A seventh vessel is on standby near the shoreline.

The operation so far has recovered more than 120 pieces of debris, which authorities say “are consistent with what would be found on a Cessna 525 Citation.”