vagabond

From The Chronicle:

The three occupants on board the twin-engine Cessna that went missing this morning have been identified.

All are Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute employees that were headed to the company’s Lewiston, Idaho location and the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport when Federal Aviation Administration officials lost contact with the plane at about 7:30 a.m.

The three occupants of the plane have been identified as Chehalis-Centralia Airport board member Ken Sabin, Rod Rinta and Dr. Paul Shenk. Sabin piloted the plane. Rinta, a laser technician, is a Lewis County resident. Shenk is a surgeon from Woodland. Rinta and Shenk have both been employed by PCLI since 1993.

“It’s very distressing to the staff, but they’re remaining hopeful,” said Debbie Eldredge, chief operating officer for PCLI. “They’re remaining hopeful they will be found, we’re all praying for their safety.”

PCLI sends its surgeons and surgery teams to the company’s 17 sites about four times a week from their headquarters in Chehalis.

Updated 4:25 p.m.: Three Occupants of Missing Airplane Identified - The Chronicle: Home