UPDATE - Sunday 1:45 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard made the decision Sunday afternoon to end the search for Kenneth and Alice Simmons who went missing Friday afternoon 23 miles off the coast of Palm Beach.
The search lasted more than 32 hours with multiple agencies involved including the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Officials started Friday afternoon in the area the plane is believed to have gone down but quickly expanded their efforts to include more than 1,100 square nautical miles.
"Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we ever have to make, and it is never made lightly," said Capt Mark Vlaun, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, "We have been in regular contact with the family members throughout our search efforts and extend our sympathies for what we know is a very difficult time for them."
As of Sunday there were still no signs of the plane, two people or their two dogs.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla -- The search continues for Ken and Alice Simmons.
The couple went missing 23 miles off the coast of Palm Beach after the small aircraft they were traveling on went down.
The incident causing sadness and shock for a lot of people in the community.
"Ken and Alice, they both loved people and they loved making connections and bringing people together," said David Quilleon.
Quilleon is the Senior Vice President of Best Buddies Palm Beach County and worked closely with the couple.
UPDATE: The @USCG continues to search Sunday for a downed Piper Saratoga aircraft with two people aboard 23 miles east of Palm Beach. pic.twitter.com/NabuGOVX2m
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 3, 2019
"Yes Alice served as a member of our board and Ken was super involved in Best Buddies and both worked to raise money to support best buddies in our community," said Quilleon.
Authorities believe Kenneth and Alice were 15 minutes into their flight when a flight tracker shows the aircraft spinning several times before disappearing from radar.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately sent 2 cutters out to sea as well as a helicopter to try and find them. As of Saturday night, resources were reduced down to one cutter.
"He helped my kids with their science fair projects, and got them involved in Best Buddies. He’s an incredible advocate, certainly for animals and the environment and he really became such a good friend to advocating for people with intellectual disabilities," said Quilleon.
While search crews continue their mission, friends and family are praying for a positive outcome.
"You know they were doing what they love and so I’m still clinging on to hope that they will be found and they will be okay," said Quilleon.
