Three Santa Barbarans Reported Missing in Panama

Three Santa Barbara residents and their pilot have been reported missing, after a light plane headed for a volcano in the western province of Chiriqui failed to arrive. The plane disappeared after taking off Sunday from Islas Secas off Panama’s Pacific coast, heading for the Chiriqui volcano, about 285 miles west of the capital.

Reported missing are Michael Klein, his 13-year-old daughter Talia, and her 12-year-old friend Francesca Lewis. The Cessna 172 was piloted by Edwin Lasso. The Associated Press has the rest of the story with photos, as reported by Klein’s former wife, Kim Klein.