Troopers confirm 2 bodies discovered connected to plane crash

WNKY Staff,

OHIO COUNTY, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police has confirmed two bodies have been located in relation to an airplane crash in Ohio County.

According to the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, Owensboro Daviess County Central Dispatch received a report just before 11 p.m. Wednesday from the Evansville Airport Control Tower about a possible airplane crash in Whitesville, Kentucky.

Ohio County authorities say two personnel were on board the aircraft, including an instructor pilot and student pilot that were on their way to Owensboro from Bowling Green when the tower lost contact.

At the time of the suspected crash, a severe thunderstorm was impacting the area.

The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office joined together to conduct a search.

Kentucky State Police, Daviess County Fire, Whitesville Fire Department, Daviess County and Ohio County Emergency Management and Ohio County EMS all responded to the command post, officials say.

Officials say an initial search began based on information about the flight path, information from cell phone pings from the pilot’s cell phone and the Life 360 app.

Three drones and an airplane were additionally launched to help search the area once weather had cleared.

As further information was gathered, officials say the search centered around New Panther Creek Church inside of Ohio County on Highway 764. Shortly after, officials say they found paperwork related to an aircraft in a heavily wooded area behind the church.

KSP trooper Corey King says as of 9:38 a.m. Thursday, search crews located two bodies near KY 764. The identities of those who have died have not yet been released.

KSP and the FAA are continuing to investigate this incident.

We will provide an update as further information is released.

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