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British Columbia

Police search Fraser River after possible plane crash near Maple Ridge, B.C.

Police say search efforts will resume Sunday morning in Maple Ridge following a report of a possible plane crash in the Fraser River Saturday afternoon.

RCMP say a witness reported seeing a small plane possibly crash into the Fraser River

First responders are searching for an aircraft that reportedly went down in or near the Fraser River in Maple Ridge. (David Bell/CBC)

Police say search efforts for a missing planein Maple Ridge, B.C., will resume Sunday morning following a report of a possible crash in the Fraser River Saturday afternoon.

Ridge Meadows RCMP along with search and rescue crews werein the area of Lougheed Highway and 280 Street searching for the plane by land, sea and air.

"We're using our helicopters, our boats, members on the ground and members on the bridge who are actively searching along the Fraser River. But at this time there has been nothing reported, but we're going to continue searching the area until we're satisfied one way or another,"said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Chris Manseau.

Manseau says the report came in just before 1:30 p.m. PT, and described a planethe size of a Cessna.

"Investigators immediately contacted all the local airports to see if there wereany takeoffs or landings that were similar in size and in nature, or if there was any overdue planes. And as of the time that they contacted there wasn't,"Manseau said.

Manseau saidno wreckage or oil spill hadbeen discovered as of 9 p.m. PT. He said police plan to resume the search Sunday morning andwill reach out to the Vancouver Police Department to use their marine unit.

He said an underwater recovery team would also be deployed and that police would be watching for any missing persons reports overnight.

Manseau previously said investigators wouldlikely make contact with local airports later on Saturday to see if all the aircraft hadclosed their flight plans.

Maple Ridge and Central Valley Search and Rescue crews, along with the Abbotsford Police Department were among thefirst responders taking part in the search.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who knows of someone that was out on a plane and is now overdue, is asked to immediately contact the Ridge Meadows RCMP.