Search For Plane Continues Today Girl Out Of Hospital

BREWSTER, Wash. (AP) — A 16-year-old girl who survived the crash of a small plane in the rugged mountains of north-central Washington has been released from a hospital in Brewster.

Three Rivers Hospital spokeswoman Melanie Neddo confirms that Autumn Veatch was released Tuesday evening. Neddo said she did not know where the young woman was headed. Veatch's father, David Veatch, had traveled from his Bellingham home to be with her, as did several of her friends.

In Bellingham, friends of the family gathered Tuesday night in anticipation of a happy homecoming, bringing balloons and flowers to David Veatch's apartment.

Aided by information from the teen, a search continues for the plane wreckage and the girl's step-grandparents, Leland and Sharon Bowman, of Marion, Montana. Leland Bowman was piloting the plane on Saturday's flight.

The teen has told officials she was the only one to make it out alive after the plane crashed and burned.