After over 50 years of searching, the wreckage of a private plane has finally been discovered.
Five men were on board the corporate jet when it disappeared after taking off from Burlington Airport in Iowa heading to Providence, Rhode Island on January 27, 1970.
Despite 17 search efforts, it was Garry Kozak and his team who successfully located the Jet Commander 10-seater in Lake Champlain, Vermont, where it was believed to have gone down.
Using a remote-controlled vehicle, they found a wreckage matching the original’s paint scheme at a depth of 200 feet near Juniper Island.
Kozak expressed his certainty about the find, bringing closure to families like that of pilot George Nikita.
Barbara Nikitas, George’s niece, described it as a bittersweet discovery, finally knowing what happened after all these years.
Frank Wilder, whose father was on the jet, shared the mix of emotions the families are experiencing after wondering for over five decades.
The NTSB is now investigating to confirm the plane’s identity, while families plan to hold a memorial service in remembrance.
The dedication of search teams like Kozak and Hans Hug has been crucial in solving this mystery, making them heroes in the eyes of the families seeking closure.