SEATTLE (AP) – A 16-year-old girl survived a small plane crash in the rugged mountains of north-central Washington state and then hiked through thick forest to reach safety in what one official called “a miracle.” But searchers were still looking for the plane wreckage and her two step-grandparents, who were also on board.
There was no official word on the status of the older couple, identified as Leland and Sharon Bowman of Marion, Montana.
Navy helicopters searched for the wreckage until late Monday night, several hours after fixed wing planes suspended their efforts. The search was to resume Tuesday, weather permitting, said Barbara LaBoe, a Washington state Transportation Department spokeswoman.
David Veatch of Bellingham, the father of survivor Autumn Veatch, told reporters outside a Brewster hospital late Monday his daughter was exhausted but doing remarkably well.
She was able to joke with him about all the survival shows they watched together on television, he said.