Bob Norton and his six passengers disappeared on Monday, February 16, 2009, after taking off into inclement weather.
Bob has been a volunteer missionary pilot for Adventist Medical Aviation in Venezuela since 2002. He was on a flight in the AMA Cessna-182 with his wife, a teacher, two children and their traveling companions when those in nearby villages heard his engine stop.
The last communication with the pilot was an unclear radio call to Bethel, their destination village. Soon after that, he was reported missing, and the National Civil Aviation Institute began searching. After three days, they ceased, and GMI and churches have been contracting search teams to find the missing pilot and passengers. Those in the villages of Gran Sabana, where the plane is believed to have gone down, are also searching the area.
Church members around the world are praying for God's intervention on behalf of Bob and his passengers, and that His name will be glorified in this situation.
Read the Adventist News story.
Update: Every effort is still being made to find Bob, his passengers, and the missing plane. Because of the denseness and vastness of the jungle, searchers on the ground and even in helicopters are limited. However, one group plans to purchase detailed satellite imagery of the area in hopes of pinpointing the airplane's exact location. They are currently raising funds, directed through OCI, to enable this purchase. If you would like to participate in this endeavor, click on the "Donate to Missions" button on the left, or send a check (specifying "Bob Norton Search" in the memo line) to:
OCI
5340 Layton Lane
Apison, TN 37302
