Loved Ones Of Missing Student Pilot Pray For His Safe Return

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — Dozens of friends and family of a student pilot who went missing over the weekend packed a Calabasas temple to pray for his safe return.

Edmond Haronian, a Woodland Hills insurance broker, went missing Saturday after he and his instructor flew to Catalina Island.

"We still haven't given up hope," said Rose Haronian, his ex-wife. "That's why we are here, to pray for him."

Pictures on Facebook show that Haronian arrived and his family says witnesses saw them take off again, but they never returned to Van Nuys Airport.

So far, searches by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Coast Guard, and private searches have turned up nothing.

Haronian's son says they need answers and closure.

"Something that we can work off of because right now, it's unbelievable that a plane just goes missing in thin air," said Eddie Bardi, his son.

A representative from the flight school, Encore Flight Academy, says there was no distress call. They've also sent out search teams and found nothing.

The school says the instructor, Jason Glazier, has 30 years of experience and the plane was in excellent condition.

Haronian's family says they'll keep searching until they know what happened.

"When your mind just goes everywhere, it's just very difficult. We need to know something," Haronian said.