WOODLAND HILLS—The U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search for two San Fernando Valley men whose plane disappeared over the coast of Catalina Island during Memorial Day weekend.
Edmond Haronian, 50, a Woodland Hills father of two and student pilot, along with his instructor, 52-year-old Jason Glazier of Encino have been missing since May 26, when their single-engine Cessna 172 never landed at its expected destination. The aircraft took off on the return leg of their trip around 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said that “no signs of any aircraft or anyone in distress were found” and suspended the search at about 8 p.m. on May 30, after more than 16 hours of searching alongside the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
When the plane failed to arrive on time to Van Nuys Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration alerted authorities that the aircraft was missing, according to FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.
Haronian’s relatives became concerned Sunday when they could not reach him and commissioned three helicopters to help rescuers search for the aircraft over the holiday weekend. They have since continued to hire private jets to assist in rescue efforts.
There has been no activity on Haronian’s cell phone or credit cards since Saturday, according to his family. Haronian has been flying at the Van Nuys-based Encore Flight Academy for about a year and was expected to graduate next month.
Having had completed approximately 90 percent of his training flights, Haronian wasn’t allowed to fly over water alone yet, so Glazier, his instructor, went with him. His Aircraft Tail number is N739ZE. Officials are still investigating the disappearance of the plane.
