An Alabama father and his two daughters were found dead after their small plane crashed in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area of Montana. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Area is located in western Montana, primarily within the Rocky Mountains. It spans parts of Flathead County, Lewis and Clark County, and Powell County. It lies south of Glacier National Park and west of the Continental Divide. It’s remote and largely inaccessible by road

According to the Powell County Sheriff’s Office, the crash was first reported around 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 17. Search crews from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls began looking for the aircraft and continued through midnight, PEOPLE reported.

The following morning, at about 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, a volunteer aircraft with the Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division located the wreckage in northern Powell County. The scene was then turned over to the U.S. Air Force, which also had helicopters assisting in the search. The pilot and two passengers were pronounced dead at the site.

Authorities said the investigation has been handed over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine what caused the crash.

Before officials confirmed the fatalities, Monte Sano Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama, asked the community for prayers for local pilot Mark Anderson and his two daughters, Lainey and Ellie, who had been reported missing.

The Monte Sano Church posted to Facebook: “MSBC FAMILY: Please pray for the safe return of the Anderson family from Huntsville Alabama.”

“Mark, Lainey, and Ellie Anderson (father and daughters)went missing yesterday while flying to Polson, MT. Mark is an experienced pilot, and we’re holding onto hope that he made a safe landing in a remote area. Weather complicated and delayed rescue efforts, but search teams are back out this morning.”

“At 11:30 MT the plane was located.”

“No details have been released as the search team reaches their location.  We know that it is a very remote area and will take time.  Our prayer is for the complete safety of Mark Lainey and Ellie as well as their dog Stella.”

“Pray for their safety, that they are unharmed, for Misty (wife and mother), their family and friends as we all wait.  We would also like to pray for the search team as they continue their rescue. We trust in God’s protection and are asking for a miracle.”

“Please share and keep them in your prayers.”

Soon after, news outlets WSFA 12 and WBRC 6 confirmed that the victims were Mark Anderson and his daughters. The church later updated its post, sharing that Anderson’s plane had been found.