HALIFAX - Search and rescue officials say a pilot and his small plane are missing on a flight from the Montreal area to northeastern New Brunswick.

Maj. Paul Doucette of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax says the Cessna 310 left Saint-Hubert, Que., on Tuesday night but failed to arrive in Pokemouche, N.B.

A search was launched today in the Bathurst, N.B., area with a Hercules aircraft and Cormorant helicopter, but Doucette says the effort is on hold due to bad weather.

He says the search aircraft faced poor visibility with a low cloud ceiling and freezing drizzle.

The Cessna's flight plan indicated it was supposed to arrive in Pokemouche around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Doucette says the pilot is the only person on board.