Search for missing pilot ends

Home
Local

Search for missing pilot ends

Updated: June 23, 2012 - 4:30 PM

Mike Bratlie disappeared June 8 while flying to the Duluth area.

0
comments
resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

The search for a Lakeville pilot who has been missing for more than two weeks is ending.

On Saturday, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and Civil Air Patrol announced that they're suspending the search in northeastern Minnesota for pilot Mike Bratlie, 67, of Lakeville. He left the South St. Paul airport for the Duluth area June 8 in his twin engine, Piper PA-31 Navajo plane.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, Bratlie was a seasoned pilot who had flown for the U.S. Navy and a commercial airline service.

Crews from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois searched more than 2,000 square miles for 13 days, having up to 70 personnel searching at once, the Civil Air Patrol said. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota State Patrol and several other agencies also assisted in the search.

STAFF REPORT