Rescuers end search for plane missing with two aboard in southeastern B.C.

VICTORIA — Rescuers have called off the search for a small plane with two people aboard that disappeared more than a week ago while flying over southeastern British Columbia.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria says in a recorded message that crews made the difficult decision to suspend the exhaustive operation as of Monday afternoon.

Police have said 28-year-old pilot Dominic Neron and 31-year-old passenger Ashley Bourgeault were flying from Penticton, B.C., to Edmonton on Nov. 25 when the single-engine plane vanished.

The rescue centre says Royal Canadian Air Force and Parks Canada aircraft have flown 120 hours in challenging conditions covering a search area of more than 22,000 square kilometres.