St.Petersburg, Fla. (970 WFLA)- The Coast Guard continues to search for three people missing aboard an aircraft that left Brooksville en route to Cedar Key Sunday.
Missing are Jasper Jerrels, 65, Hue Singletary and Jerrels' 17-year-old son.
The Coast Guard and partner agencies conducted seven searches, covering more than 147 square nautical miles.
At 5:21 p.m. Sunday, watch standers from Sector St. Petersburg received a report from the Flight Service Station Gainesville, stating a white with red and blue stripes, single-engine aircraft failed to arrive in Cedar Key by noon.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Air Station Clearwater and a 27-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Station Yankeetown launched and commenced the search.
At 9:06 a.m. a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine unit located an aircraft seat matching the description of the interior of the missing plane, and search and rescue crews located a small debris field. However, the plane has yet to be located. Citrus County marine units are using side scan sonar in the area.
Searching are personnel from Air Station Clearwater, Station Yankeetown, Sector St. Petersburg, Citrus County, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Levy County Fire and Rescue, and Cedar Key Fire and Rescue.
Photo Credit: U S Coast Guard