Local pilots join search for Florida teens

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some pilots in our area joined the search for two missing teens from Florida.

The two boys went missing last Friday off the coast of Jupiter Florida in a boat.

Thursday, two pilots took off from ILM in a private plane to help look for Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos. The co-pilot of that  plane is Andrew Register, 19, of Columbus County. He said he does not work for law enforcement or the Coast Guard. He is just doing it to help.

Register has always loved flying and he is a part of several Facebook groups for pilots. He said he saw a post asking pilots and boaters to help search for Cohen and Stephanos.

Register did not waste any time joining another pilot at ILM. The plan was to help the Coast Guard search up and down the coast to Charleston. He said he does not know the missing boys. He just wants to help.

“I haven’t talked to the family,” Register said. “We’re just doing this out of the goodness of our hearts, trying to find these boys and bring them home to their family, because if I was in the same situation, I would want somebody to come look for me. You know? Treat others the way you want to be treated in life.”

The Florida families set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for private aircraft, boat fuel and any other resources needed for the immediate recovery of the missing boys.

At the end of the day Thursday, Register said they did not find the Florida teens, but he said they may go out again.