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LANDER – Two Civil Air Patrol fixed wing aircraft returned to the air during the fifth day of active searching for a missing single-engine plane in northwest Wyoming Saturday. The CAP aircraft were sent aloft to re-evaluate an emergency transponder signal, which both air and ground crews have been unable to pinpoint in the rocky canyons of the nine-square mile search area.

No physical evidence of the missing aircraft has been located.

"We have three teams of world-class mountaineers on ground searches today to augment the air search, which includes a new military unit—a Blackhawk helicopter from the Wyoming Army National Guard," said Incident Command Operations Chief Jason Aanestad. The Blackhawk arrived at mid-day to relieve a U.S. Air Force Huey, which had been on the search for the past three days.

One of the helicopters involved in the search is performing visual grid work today, scouring the area looking for any clues. "In a search such as this, we are looking for anything unusual or something that is out of place on the landscape," said Incident Commander Chip Williams. "With the high winds of the last several days, snowfields have shifted and we want to ensure that we’ve covered each grid thoroughly."

Although the day began with favorable weather, wind speeds began to increase by mid-afternoon and snow showers are forecast later this afternoon into tomorrow.

Related Links Search for missing aircraft enters 5th day - October 29, 2010 Missing aircraft still lost in Wind River Mountains - October 29, 2010