Air mail: Crews search Montana wilderness for mail bags after plane cargo door comes unlatched

Air mail: Crews search wilderness for mail bags

KALISPELL, Mont. — A cargo plane door opened in flight over Montana and likely turned two bags into air mail.

Crews are searching the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex for the two priority mail bags that might have fallen out of the plane last weekend.

Alpine Air reported that a cargo hatch on the twin-engine turboprop opened during the flight between Billings and Kalispell and the pilot was unable to close it. The plane carried about 3,000 pounds of mail.

Postal workers aren’t sure any mail is missing, but if any is, they say it’s likely two bags, or about 25 packages.

Weather hampered the search on Thursday for the bright orange mail bags.

Kalispell customers who believe they’re missing priority mail packages are asked to call the Kalispell Post Office.

Information from: KCFW-TV, www.kcfw.com