VANCOUVER, CANADA - RESCUERS were searching on Sunday for at least one survivor who sent a text message to authorities after a small plane crashed in western Canada with seven people aboard, officials said.

The Grumman Goose aircraft disappeared on Sunday morning shortly after taking off, north of Vancouver, British Colombia.

A helicopter and search plane were flying over the area trying to locate the crash site Sunday afternoon.

'There are indications there is at least one survivor,' said Lieutenant Commander Gerry Pash, an official with the search operation, told CBC public television.

One passenger had attempted to contact authorities via text message, 'indicating he's seeing the search aircraft,' Mr Pash said.

However, foggy conditions and rough terrain made the task of finding the crash site difficult, Mr Pash said, declining to elaborate on whether rescuers expected to find more survivors.

'It's very rugged, it's very difficult to determine the location,' he said. -- AFP