Student initially missing from crash joining staff in search (7)
I believe the answer is:
manhunt
'search' is the definition.
(manhunt is a kind of search)
'student initially missing from crash joining staff' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'MA' (someone studying for a Master of Arts).
'initially missing' means to remove the first letter.
'from' becomes 'in' (I've seen this in other clues).
'crash joining staff' becomes 'hunt' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'in' with its initial letter taken off is 'n'.
'ma'+'n'+'hunt'='MANHUNT'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for manhunt that I've seen before include "Pursuit of missing person" , "Search for criminal" , "Organised search for a fugitive" , "Police search operation" , "in which one wanted to be found?" .)