Panama Plane Crash: U.S. Won't Help In Search, Families Say

WAUKESHA, WI — Two families searching for missing loved ones in Panama said the United States government "doesn't have assets to deploy" in the search, according to a joint statement.

Four people and a pilot were on a private plane that crashed off the coast of Panama on Jan. 3, including Deb and Anthony Velleman of Waukesha and Sue Borries, 57, of Teutopolis, Illinois. The Vellemans were celebrating the New Year's weekend on the island of Contadora.

Anthony Velleman was one of three people rescued after the crash. He is in a Panamanian hospital, but his wife, Deb Velleman, is still missing. Borries is also missing.

The Velleman and Borries families released the following statement Monday.

"The Panamanian government has formally asked the United States for help in the search to recover the American citizens. The U.S Government has responded to the families’ request for additional search assets stating that the United States Government, including both the Department of Defense and U.S. Coast Guard reviewed the request, but ‘did not have assets to deploy. Furthermore, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does not have jurisdiction in Panama.' "We do not accept this response by our government that the required assets – including US Naval salvage divers and sonar do not exist and/or cannot be deployed to nearby Panama. The families of the missing women – both retired public-school teachers – are on the ground in Panama anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones."

Patch reached out to the Department of Defense and U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday for comment.

In response to Patch's request for comment, the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the following statement.

"The Department has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. We are aware of the situation and are providing consular assistance. At this point, we can confirm four U.S. citizens were on board a plane that went down in the ocean near Chame on January 3. Two were found and have received consular assistance. We appreciate Panamanian authorities’ cooperation in search and rescue operations to find the two missing persons," a State Department Official said.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Waukesha), are now involved, Albert Lewitinn, a Velleman family spokesperson, told Patch. Patch reached out to Baldwin and Fitzgerald on Tuesday for comment.

The families have been urging the U.S. government to send in resources to help locate the missing women.

The Vellemans' sons, Josh and Jake Velleman, told Patch the family is frustrated.

Panamanian authorities have conducted round-the-clock air, sea and land searches and are aware of the aircraft's last known coordinates. But they need help locating the wreckage.

Both the Borries and Velleman families implored the U.S. government to send the personnel and equipment needed to find the missing people.

The Velleman sons said they won't have closure until they find their mother, they said.

"If you are in a position to assist through your professional office, connection to a relevant office, and/or are willing to reach out to your congressional representatives, your advocacy on behalf of our families will be sincerely appreciated," Jake Velleman said.