Dowagiac, MI – Police are launching a desperate search for 82-year-old pilot Richard Martin and his Sonex Plane, Tail Number N569SX. The disappearance occurred on Sunday, after Martin embarked on his usual weekend aviation excursion.
Dowagiac Municipal Airport Manager confirmed Martin’s routine flights, lasting 1-2 hours every Sunday morning. Martin’s plane took off from the Dowagiac Municipal Airport around 11 AM Sunday. Family members anxiously awaited his return, but hours passed with no sign of the pilot.
Local Police have joined forces with the Michigan State Police, Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Air Patrol, and South Bend Air Traffic Control in a relentless quest to uncover clues that could lead them to Martin and his missing aircraft.
The attached photos of Richard Martin and his Sonex Plane serve as a plea for assistance from the public.
This mysterious incident remains under the intense scrutiny of Dowagiac Police. If you have any information that could help in this search, please contact the Dowagiac Police Department at (269)-782-9743 or the Cass County Tip Line at 1-(800)-462-9328.
