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The Coast Guard was searching Saturday night for a privately owned small aircraft that disappeared off radar over waters between Maui and Molokai.
It’s unclear how many people were aboard the small Cessna 172S Skyhawk, but the aircraft can hold up to four people, a Coast Guard spokesman said.
The Cessna left Kahului Airport about 7 p.m. Saturday, heading toward Molokai.
The airplane disappeared from radar and radio contact was lost about 30 minutes later, when it was about 21⁄2 miles north off the north shore of Maui, the Coast Guard said.
A Coast Guard C-130 and HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Barbers Point Air Station on Oahu were launched to conduct a search.
The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Ahi was deployed from Honolulu to assist, while the Maui fire and police departments were conducting land searches.
The Cessna 172, is a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. More model 172s have been built than any other aircraft, according to the Cessna website.