Search for missing plane suspended

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CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- A search for the crew of a plane that disappeared while flying over an Antarctica mountain range was postponed Friday due to bad weather, officials said.

Kenn Borek Air, the Calgary, Canada, company that owns the plane, said it would resume search efforts as soon as weather permits, CTV News reported.

The plane's emergency locator transmitter was activated around 10 p.m. Wednesday as the plane traveled from a U.S. research station at the South Pole to an Italian research base in Terra Nova Bay. It was carrying three Canadian crew members.

Hurricane-force winds, heavy snow and cloud cover made it difficult for rescue crews to spot the missing plane Friday morning.

"When conditions ease, the intention is to set up a forward base at a location approximately 50 kilometers [about 31 miles] from the beacon site, from which to launch operations to the site," search and rescue mission coordinator Kevin Banaghan said in a statement.