Missing Boater , New River (MCAS NR)

Family members have identified the boater missing from New River Air Station since Friday morning.

Michael Glenn Hastings Jr., 19, of Burgaw Highway, a civilian employee of New River Air Station Marina was breaking in the motor of a new 14-foot skiff when he was discovered missing around 11 a.m., his father said.

“I want my son’s name to be out there so people know who he is,” Hastings father said. “I don’t want people to just know him as a ‘boater.’”

Members of the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team, Naval Criminal Investigative Services and the U.S. Coast Guard worked Friday to locate Hastings.

The search turned into a recovery mission late Friday afternoon, according to officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Initial reports from authorities said that Hastings boat was found circling in the water, but Hastings’ father, Michael Glenn Hastings Sr., a retired Marine gunnery sergeant, said the boat had beached in Southwest Creek. Spotters noticed the boat going in erratic circles and went to investigate. By the time they got to the location, Hastings’ boat had beached, the elder Hastings said.

The Wildlife Resource Commission will be conducting an investigation of the incident, which cannot be officially classified as a boating accident until 48 hours have gone by or a body has been located, said WRC Sgt. Charles Smith.

Hastings said his son went out at around 9 a.m., sent a text message to his girlfriend at 11:02 a.m. and another to a friend a short time later and was discovered missing a short time after that.

Officials with New River Air Station said that assets from Camp Lejeune, New River and Cherry Point were involved in the search Friday. Aircraft involved in the search included the MV-22 Osprey, CH-53 Echo Super Stallion and Pedro rescue helicopter, said 1st Lt. Kristen Dalton, a spokeswoman for New River.

Sheriff Ed Brown said recovery efforts began again at 9 a.m. with Coast Guard boats scanning the water’s bottom and his dive team investigating any anomalies discovered.

The search should continue until 3 p.m.

The younger Hastings is a graduate of Southwest High School who played football.

March 07, 2010 4:25 PM
Authorities will resume recovery efforts Monday for a civilian New River Air Station employee who has been missing in the waters off the base marina since Friday.
Michael Glenn Hastings Jr., 19, of Burgaw Highway, was breaking in the motor of a new 14-foot skiff when he was discovered missing around 11 a.m.
Members of the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team, Naval Criminal Investigative Services, the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps have spent three days searching for Hastings.
Workers were using nets Sunday afternoon and plan to begin looking for any sign of Hastings at around 10 a.m. Monday, Sheriff Ed Brown said.
The Wildlife Resource Commission is still investigating the incident, said WRC Sgt. Charles Smith.

March 09, 2010 8:11 AM

Authorities used SONAR and divers Monday in their efforts to locate a civilian New River Air Station employee who has been missing in the waters off the base marina since Friday.

Michael Glenn Hastings Jr., 19, of Burgaw Highway, was breaking in the motor of a new 14-foot skiff when he was discovered missing around 11 a.m.

“What we know is a boat was lost and then a boat was found without the driver,” said Charles Smith, a sergeant with the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission, which is heading up the recovery mission.

He said officials have a good idea where they believe Hastings fell into the water, but no one knows for sure.

“We will continue to look for him until we find him,” Smith said, adding that under current weather conditions it usually takes around 96 hours for a drowned body to surface.

The recovery mission will begin again today at around 10 a.m.