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Police: Small plane carrying marijuana skids off runway, pilot MIA

The pot plane, after skidding off the runway CBS/KHOU

(CBS/AP/KHOU) BROOKSHIRE, Texas - Authorities are searching for the pilot and possible other passengers of a twin-engine plane carrying a large amount of marijuana that skidded off a runway  west of Houston.

Chief deputy of the Waller County Sheriff's Department John Kremmer said the small plane had a broken or missing nose gear, which caused it to slide off the runway on Monday night.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after 7 p.m. to find a hefty amount of marijuana inside the abandoned plane, Kremmer said. "You could certainly classify it as a lot more than just personal use," Kremmer said.

The airport operates without air traffic control, and officials had no idea the plane was expected to land there.

CBS affiliate KHOU reports that no one from the plane made an emergency call, nor was there any communication with the airport during the incident.

Witnesses say they saw the shadows of a person or possibly people running from the plane after it stopped skidding, but it was unclear how many were actually on board, police say.

Investigators said it appeared whoever was on board attempted to carry the bricks of marijuana off the plane, but ran away, leaving a large amount behind.

Law enforcement officials say the plane is registered to an owner in La Vernia, Texas, and Kremmer says it has not been reported stolen. He says they have no idea who the pilot could be, or where he came from. Multiple law enforcement agencies started joined the manhunt to find the suspect, but no one has been located as yet.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Homeland Security assisted local authorities in the investigation. There have been no prior similar incidents reported at the airport.

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