Plane goes missing en route to New Mexico airport as nearby wildfire reported

A plane has been reported missing while flying toward Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in Lincoln County, New Mexico, local officials said Thursday.

Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said the aircraft disappeared en route to the airport, which is located about 180 miles south of Albuquerque. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were on board.

At the same time, local officials are responding to reports of a fire in the nearby Capitan Mountain area. Emergency teams are currently assessing whether the two incidents are connected, while search and response operations continue.