Coast Guard searches for missing plane in Ohio

CLEVELAND, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard joined local search-and-rescue crews to search for a missing plane that departed an airport in Cleveland, emergency officials said.

The Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport, a downtown airport in Lake Erie, at 10:50 p.m. It was headed south to the Ohio State University in Columbus, the FAA reported, adding the plane was not visible on radar.

The plane carried six unidentified passengers, including three children, who attended the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game in downtown Cleveland that evening.

A Coast Guard aircraft, stationed in Detroit, is aiding in the search, and a second aircraft is expected to participate, WKYC-TV, Cleveland, reported.

The Cleveland Fire Department was also called to assist, WJW-TV, Cleveland, reported. The search has been slowed by heavy rains, high winds and high waves on Lake Erie.