Friends and family have identified the pilot of a missing plane in B.C. as Dominic Neron of Spruce Grove.
Neron, 28, left Penticton, B.C. with his girlfriend on a single-engine aircraft at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. In a Facebook message, his sister Tammy Neron said they were flying to Revelstoke to visit his girlfriend’s family.
The plane was reported missing at 10:40 p.m. Saturday, said Katelyn Moores, spokesperson for the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
Neron’s cellphone signal was last picked up 20 kilometres north of Revelstoke.
Search and rescue teams began looking for the white aircraft with burgundy stripes on Saturday night. The search focused on the region between Revelstoke and Rogers Pass, but nothing was found. Bad weather on Sunday hampered efforts, but the search resumed Monday morning.
Cellphone signals from a pilot onboard small plane that has gone missing were last picked up near Revelstoke, B.C. (Google Maps)
Neron owned the aircraft and had flown the route before, Tammy said.
Dan Rahnell has known Neron for 10 years. He said he’s a journeyman electrician who would be celebrating his 29th birthday next month.
He’d been flying for a few years, Rahnell said in a Facebook message.
“It’s very surreal for family and friends. We are just hoping for a safe return,” he said.
“Dom was always willing to help with anything. He’s very resilient and I hope to hear a happy ending about this scary situation.”