National ⺠Missing small plane found in Hokkaido, 2 on board confirmed dead

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<p id="article_credit">SAPPORO â€" </p>
<p>A Self-Defense Forces rescue team on Friday discovered a small single-engine propeller plane that disappeared two days ago in northern Japan as well as the two men on board, who were both dead, local police said.  The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said the SDF team found the plane in a mountainous area in Hokkaido in its aerial search and airlifted the bodies of the two, who were later confirmed dead at hospital.</p>

<p>The Cessna TU206G,  registered with Nakanihon Air Service Co., was piloted by Isao Hata, 46,  with photographer Shoji Furuta, 60, the sole passenger, according to the company and the ministry.  The Hokkaido police said neither of the two men, who are both employees of the Aichi Prefecture-based aircraft operator, was breathing when they were found.  The Cessna disappeared from radar screens Wednesday morning while flying about 670 meters above sea level over the southern part of the Oshima Peninsula in Hokkaido, according to the transport ministry.</p>

<p>The plane was en route from Niigata airport to Okadama airport in Sapporo.  The police said earlier GPS data from the pilot’s mobile phone was transmitted from a mountainous area near the town of Shiriuchi after contact was lost.  On Wednesday, several residents of the town reported seeing a small whitish plane flying low over the town, the police said, adding that one reported hearing a hard thud after seeing a small aircraft. Rescue and search operations were suspended Thursday because of bad weather.
</p> <p class="article_smalltext">© 2010 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.</p>

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