Search Intensifies for Missing Boy: Bundeswehr Aircraft Deployed to Locate Pawlos (6)

Weilburg - A week has passed since six-year-old Pawlos went missing, prompting an extensive search effort that now includes assistance from the Bundeswehr. The child was last seen on Tuesday of the previous week, having disappeared without a trace from his special needs school in Weilburg. In response to the situation, an aerial reconnaissance aircraft from the Bundeswehr will be deployed to assist in the ongoing search operations in Hesse, as authorities remain hopeful of finding the boy alive.

According to a spokesperson for the Bundeswehr's Operational Command in Berlin, the West Hesse Police Department submitted a request for military assistance that has been officially approved. The reconnaissance aircraft is expected to take off from Nörvenich, home to the Tactical Air Force Squadron 31 "Boelcke." This aircraft is equipped to capture high-resolution aerial images that may aid the police in their search for Pawlos.

The search for Pawlos has been complicated by the fact that he is autistic and may have difficulty with spatial orientation. A video captured by a vehicle's dashcam reportedly shows him wandering aimlessly in the middle of a road, where he was later assisted by a passerby who moved him to the sidewalk. After this sighting, however, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Hundreds of volunteers and rescue personnel have been actively involved in the search efforts, utilizing search dogs, divers, equestrian units, and helicopters. The emotional toll of the search is palpable among the participants, as many have expressed their personal connections to the situation. One member of the voluntary fire brigade in Marktflecken Weilmünster noted, "We are thoroughly examining every possible location. As a parent of a child the same age, this situation weighs heavily on me."

To expand the search, the West Hesse Police have launched a campaign to display Pawlos's photo on over 13,000 digital information boards throughout Germany, including at train stations, rest areas, and airports. Authorities urge anyone who might see Pawlos not to approach or call out to him, as he is known to be easily startled. Instead, individuals are encouraged to contact the police emergency line at 110 or reach out to the nearest police station.

As the search continues, the community remains hopeful for Pawlos's safe return, drawing parallels to other missing children's cases that have occurred in recent years. The use of advanced technology in the search reflects a commitment from law enforcement and the military to utilize all available resources in hopes of bringing the young boy home.