Body, crashed plane found

RCMP say the wreckage of a plane and a body have been found in a wooded rural area northwest of Edmonton.

RCMP Cpl. Chris Warren said military search and rescue technicians discovered the aircraft from the air Thursday afternoon in Lac. St. Anne County. Mounties then rushed to the crash site.

"The RCMP attended and discovered an aircraft with extensive damage and a body at the scene" Warren said.

The identity of the remains and the aircraft have not been confirmed.

The Royal Canadian Air Force has been searching for a Cessna 172 that hasn't been seen since it took off Sunday afternoon from an airfield in Edson, Alta., bound for nearby Westlock.

The military says a Hercules aircraft and two helicopters have been searching the area between the two communities.

Warren said Transport Canada and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating what was found at the crash site.

"It is too early to confirm the identity of the aircraft or the deceased, but all possibilities are being explored," he said.

Warren said the family of the missing Cessna pilot has been in contact with RCMP since the plane was reported missing.

Earlier this week a friend identified the pilot of the missing Cessna as Scott Schneider, who was flying with his dog.

The military has said the search for the missing plane had been hampered by smoke from wildfires in B.C. that prevented civilian aircraft from taking part.

Warren said it appears the military search has now been called off.

"I don't believe there are any further air search efforts at this time."