Wreckage of small jet found north of Atlanta

CALHOUN, Ga. – The wreckage of a small jet was found Saturday in a remote area of northern Georgia, hours after the plane went missing from radar shortly after takeoff from the Atlanta area.

There were no signs of survivors, the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office said. It wasn’t known how many people were aboard.

A search began once the plane was reported missing Saturday morning, Gordon County Sheriff Chief Deputy Robert Paris told The Associated Press. Civilians aided in the search and it was a private citizen who first spotted wreckage. “It’s in a very densely wooded, very remote part of our county,” he said.

Paris said National Transportation Safety Board officials were expected to arrive Sunday.

Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that a Cessna Citation aircraft disappeared from radar around 10:10 a.m. about 50 miles (80 kilometres) north of Atlanta. It had departed from Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field in Peachtree City.

The Cessna website describes the Citation as a small business jet. Depending on the model, it can carry from seven to 12 passengers, according to the website.

Snow was reported in the Atlanta area around the time of the takeoff but it was not known if weather was a factor.