Search teams scour for downed plane with instructor and trainee pilot on board after it crashed in Ohio County during fierce thunderstorm

Search teams are scouring for a downed plane that has crashed in Ohio County, Kentucky, during a fierce thunderstorm. 

Around 11pm last night, Owensboro Daviess County Central Dispatch received a report from nearby Evansville air control tower of a possible airplane crash in Ohio Country.

According to Ohio County Sheriff Adam Wright, who released a statement on Facebook, the aircraft had two people on board.

The two pilots - one instructor and one student - were enroute to Owensboro, KY, from Bowling Green, KY, when the tower lost contact. 

When their plane allegedly came down, a fierce thunderstorm battered the area. 

According to Ohio County Sheriff Adam Wright, who released a statement on Facebook , the aircraft had two people on board. The two pilots - one instructor and one student - were en route to Owensboro, KY, from Bowling Green, KY, (route without above) when the tower lost contact

The Daviess County and Ohio County Sheriff's offices started a joint search operation and established a command post (file image)

The Daviess County and Ohio County Sheriff's offices started a joint search operation and established a command post.

Initially the units searched based on the plane's flight path, the pilot's cell phone pings as well as app data, but then launched three drones and another plane once the thunderstorm cleared.

The search focused on the New Panther Creek Church in Ohio County next to Highway 764 after paperwork associated with the aircraft was reportedly located nearby. 

Units are now urgently searching the wooded area behind the church on foot in an effort to find the pilots alive while paramedics are on standby to help potential victims.

Local news anchor Tanner Holbrook wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'The Ohio County sheriff says the Evansville tower notified Owensboro dispatch of a possible downed plane. 

'They've been able to determine it crashed in Ohio County on Highway 764, according to the sheriff.

'The plane was headed from Bowling Green to Owensboro. The sheriff says there was a severe thunderstorm happening when the plane went down. 

'At this point, crews say they're hoping to find survivors.'