An emergency beacon from a private single-engine aircraft alerted authorities near Eldorado Springs on Thursday night, prompting an extensive search that has not yet located the plane.
The Boulder County Communications Center received the alert from the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at 9:42 p.m., according to a statement. The aircraft was last seen on radar near Eldorado Springs and originated from Vance Brand Airport in Longmont. The number of people aboard is unknown, as flight plans are not required for aircraft of this size.
Search and rescue teams and law enforcement spent multiple hours searching overnight using both ground teams and a MedEvac helicopter equipped with night vision technology. Crews also checked nearby airports to determine whether the plane had landed. The search resumed Friday morning with ground teams and was expected to include aerial support from the Civil Air Patrol.
Multiple agencies are participating, including the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Boulder Emergency Squad, Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Civil Air Patrol, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office case number is 26-04781.