Search for Missing Helicopter Continues

ATLANTA - The Civil Air Patrol will continue searching for a missing helicopter in north Georgia today. The Robinson R44 was on a flight Monday from North Palm Beach, Florida, to Blairsville, Georgia but did not reach its destination. The helicopter was reported overdue by a family member.

Civil Air Patrol units from Georgia are actively conducting an air and ground search. Nine sorties were flown yesterday covering approximately 450 square miles. The search is focusing on an area from Madison to Blairsville. Three ground teams are also in the area following up on reports from the public. Maj. Paige Joyner, spokeswoman for the CAP, encourages you to call local law enforcement if you heard what sounded like an aircraft in distress Monday or you saw the helicopter which she says has "an unusual yellow-and-blue" paint scheme."

A direct path from Madison to Blairsville would have taken the craft over Barrow, Jackson, Hall and Lumpkin counties and part of Union.

The pilot and his passenger were last seen around 6:30 Monday night when they stopped for fuel in Madison.