The Following reports are from the actual televison newscripts of WRTV Channel 6 in Indianapolis, Indiana. These scripts represent broadcasts that were aired from Saturday, March 30, 1996 to Monday, April 1, 1996.
WRTV-6 Saturday 10:00pm News Script * Saturday, March 30, 1996 *
STATE POLICE BELIEVE A PLANE MAY HAVE CRASHED TONIGHT IN SOUTHERN MONROE COUNTY, NEAR LAKE MONROE. A PILOT REPORTED SEEING LIGHTS ON AN AIRCRAFT, THEN AN EXPLOSION IN A WOODED AREA. OFFICIALS ARE GATHERING A SEARCH CREW TO SEND TO THE SCENE. A HELICOPTER IS THERE, SEARCHING THE AREA FOR A WRECKAGE. WE ALSO HAVE A CREW ON THE WAY TO THE SCENE, AND WILL PASS ALONG ANY NEW INFORMATION AS SOON AS WE GET IT. -----------------------------
WRTV-6 Saturday 11:00pm News Script * Saturday, March 30, 1996 *
STATE POLICE BELIEVE A PLANE MAY HAVE CRASHED TONIGHT IN SOUTHERN MONROE COUNTY, NEAR LAKE MONROE. A PILOT REPORTED SEEING LIGHTS ON AN AIRCRAFT, THEN AN EXPLOSION IN A WOODED AREA. OFFICIALS ARE GATHERING A SEARCH CREW TO SEND TO THE SCENE. A HELICOPTER IS THERE, SEARCHING THE AREA FOR A WRECKAGE. WE ALSO HAVE A CREW ON THE WAY TO THE SCENE, AND WILL PASS ALONG ANY NEW INFORMATION AS SOON AS WE GET IT. -----------------------------
WRTV-6 Sunday 6:00pm News Scripts * Sunday, March 31, 1996 *
SEARCH TEAMS IN Monroe COUNTY SPENT LAST NIGHT AND MUCH OF TODAY... LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT EVEN EXIST-- A DOWNED AIRPLANE. LAST NIGHT, RESIDENTS NEAR LAKE MONROE SAW LIGHTS AND A FIREBALL ...AND THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SO FAR, THOUGH, NO ONE HAS REPORTED A PLANE-- OR A PERSON--missing. MARILYN CARTER REPORTS.
"If they're at the bottom, they ought to come back." The numbers on the map represent search and rescue teams fanned out in the dense and desolate Hoosier National Forest. They're looking for people, for wreckage, for clues to what may have happened last night. And they're not discounting any theories. (Steve McClain=Searched through the night) "It could be someone out here playing around and possibly could have exploded something that created a fireball. That's purely speculation on our part." (Tony Wilson=Indiana Conservation Officer) "It happens in Florida but it has happened here too where they fly low and then drop drugs out. Ya, it could happen, but we have no confirmation of course." Another element to this mystery is the lake. It's possible if it was an airplane it could have gone down in the lake, but again, it's sheer speculation. So far, nothing has turned up on Lake Monroe, but fishermen were among those who heard a loud explosion. This couple actually saw what appeared to be landing lights and the subsequent flash from their remote home near the southern tip of the lake. He is a retired pilot and convinced it was a plane. Yesterday's warm weather attracted quite a few campers to the forest. No one has reported seeing anything, but a few did hear something. (Amy Butler=Camper) "I was laying awake, I couldn't really sleep and I heard a lot of airplanes. I couldn't tell if it was just one or many, sounded like many circling around, but I didn't think anything of it." Those airplanes were part of the search team, and even with infrared heat sensing devices, turned up nothing. The rescue effort would be a lot easier, if they knew exactly what they were looking for. But look they must. Too many people heard and saw something. In Monroe county, Marilyn Carter six news.
LATE THIS AFTERNOON THE SEARCH WAS CALLED OFF, AFTER NOTHING WAS FOUND. -----------------------------
WRTV-6 Sunday 10:00pm News Script * Sunday, March 31, 1996 *
A SEARCH OF THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST IN MONROE COUNTY WAS CALLED OFF TODAY, AFTER NO PEOPLE OR PLANE TURNED UP. POLICE AND CONSERVATION OFFICERS COMBED A SIX SQUARE MILE AREA. THE SEARCH WAS ORGANIZED AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE REPORTED HEARING AN EXPLOSION LAST NIGHT, AND ONE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING A PLANE. AUTHORITIES CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN. "It could be someone out here playing around and possibly could have exploded something that created a fireball. That's purely speculation on our part." A HELICOPTER SEARCH LASTNIGHT ALSO TURNED UP NOTHING. -----------------------------
WRTV-6 Monday 6:00am News Script * Monday, April 1, 1996 *
IN MORGAN COUNTY ...RESCUE CREWS CALL OFF THEIR SEARCH FOR A SUPPOSED DOWNED PLANE. WE'LL EXPLAIN WHY.
THE SEARCH IS OVER FOR A PLANE THAT MAY HAVE CRASHED IN MONROE COUNTY. SATURDAY NIGHT, RESIDENTS NEAR LAKE MONROE SAY THEY SAW LIGHTS AND A FIREBALL ...AND THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSION. BUT AS MARILYN CARTER TELLS US, SO FAR, SEARCH CREWS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A THING.
"If they're at the bottom, they ought to come back." The numbers on the map represent search and rescue teams fanned out in the dense and desolate Hoosier National Forest. They're looking for people, for wreckage, for clues to what may have happened last night. And they're not discounting any theories. (Steve McClain=Searched through the night) "It could be someone out here playing around and possibly could have exploded something that created a fireball. That's purely speculation on our part." (Tony Wilson=Indiana Conservation Officer) "It happens in Florida but it has happened here too where they fly low and then drop drugs out. Ya, it could happen, but we have no confirmation of course." Another element to this mystery is the lake. It's possible if it was an airplane it could have gone down in the lake, but again, it's sheer speculation. So far, nothing has turned up on Lake Monroe, but fishermen were among those who heard a loud explosion. This couple actually saw what appeared to be landing lights and the subsequent flash from their remote home near the southern tip of the lake. He is a retired pilot and convinced it was a plane. Yesterday's warm weather attracted quite a few campers to the forest. No one has reported seeing anything, but a few did hear something. (Amy Butler=Camper) "I was laying awake, I couldn't really sleep and I heard a lot of airplanes. I couldn't tell if it was just one or many, sounded like many circling around, but I didn't think anything of it." Those airplanes were part of the search team, and even with infrared heat sensing devices, turned up nothing. The rescue effort would be a lot easier, if they knew exactly what they were looking for. But look they must. Too many people heard and saw something. In Monroe county, Marilyn Carter six news.
THE SEARCH WAS OFFICIALLY CALLED OFF AFTER CREWS WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY DEBRIS FROM A PLANE CRASH. -----------------------------
WRTV-6 Monday Midday News Script * Monday, April 1, 1996 *
SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE SKIES OVER MONROE COUNTY OVER THE WEEKEND... BUT SO FAR POLICE CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT. AUTHORITIES COMBED A SIX SQUARE MILE AREA THIS WEEKEND, AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE HEARD AN EXPLOSION SATURDAY NIGHT. ONE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING A PLANE CRASH. BUT AUTHORITIES HAVE FOUND NOTHING...AND CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. "It could be someone out here playing around and possibly could have exploded something that created a fireball. That's purely speculation on our part." THE SEARCH WAS CALLED OFF LAST NIGHT AFTER AUTHORITIES FOUND NO SIGN OF A PLANE CRASH. SO FAR, NO PLANES HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING. -----------------------------
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