Helicopter, snowmobiles being used in search for missing Natuashish teen

The Joint Rescue Control Centre in Halifax dispatched a Cormorant helicopter to Natuashish Saturday afternoon to assist ground search and rescue crews in locating a missing 17-year-old boy. 

According to JTF Atlantic, a chopper was dispatched from the 103 Squadron in Gander on Friday but had to call the search short due to poor weather conditions. 

Police said the search initially began when the Natuashish teen didn't return home Thursday night. 

According to a release issued Saturday, ground and air crews are now conducting an "extensive ground search" on a main trail between Hopedale and Natuashish.

Police and volunteers from the local fire department received an "unconfirmed report" that the teen was seen in the community on Thursday around noon, but police said there were "no more confirmations of his whereabouts throughout the remainder of the day."

On Friday, the local fire department searched the community on foot with the help of Goose Bay search and rescue, Goose Bay RCMP and the Labrador District Police Dog Services Unit. 

RCMP said Friday's air search was conducted over an area south of the community known as Sango Bay. Nothing was found. 

Police said the chopper will return Saturday afternoon. A Hopedale team is searching the area on snow machine.