A statement issued this evening by Search and Rescue (SAR) announced that the full-scale search for the plane that went missing en route to Kamloops from Cranbrook has been scaled back.
"Further search activity is not planned unless new evidence indicates a strong likelihood of locating survivors," read the statement from Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Victoria Search and Rescue Region.
Pilot Alex Simons of Kamloops and passenger Sydney Robillard of Lethbridge were on their way to Kamloops from Cranbrook when their small plane went missing on June 8th, 2017.
Poor weather had become an ongoing issue for search teams with low lying clouds causing problems.
Over a 12-day search period, a total of 18 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Civil Air Search and Rescue (CASARA) aircraft have flown approximately 576 hours and covered some 37,513 square kms.
The aircraft was being flown from Lethbridge, Alberta, to Kamloops, British Columbia, at the time it was reported missing. The last known location of the aircraft is Cranbrook, British Columbia, where a planned stop was made.
The aircraft was equipped with an electronic locating device but no viable signals were detected during the search.
"The families of the individuals have been informed and our thoughts are with them during this extremely difficult time," concluded the statement.
