Fears grow for missing light plane pilot and his partner - as heartbreaking third passenger is revealed
Gregory Vaughan, 72, and Kim Worner, 66, of Deloraine in central Tasmania were named as the couple on board the plane that disappeared on Saturday.
They were identified on Tuesday with the permission of their family, with Tasmania Police providing a picture of the pair and the missing plane.
It is a distinctive green two-seater Bristell S-LSA, which police say was purchased recently.
No distress call was made from the plane, which also had the couple's dog Molly on board, during a flight across Bass Strait.
The light aircraft took off from George Town airport in Tasmania's north about 12.45pm on Saturday and was headed to Hillston Airport in central western NSW, via Leongatha in Victoria's southeast.
Family members raised the alarm about 5pm on Saturday when it failed to arrive.
'The two people on the plane have not been in contact with anyone, or aviation authorities, since they left George Town,' Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark said.
An extensive search operation continues, with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinating efforts in northern Tasmania, Bass Strait and southern Victoria.
A helicopter crew conducted sweeps of Tasmania's northern coastline between George Town and Turners Beach on Tuesday but the plane was not sighted.
Inclement weather and low cloud hampered search efforts, with boats unable to get out on the water due to the rough conditions.
Searching is expected to continue on Wednesday.
'Significant resources have been utilised in the search and Pol Air will continue to be used over the next two days, at which time the search efforts will be re-assessed based on any possible new information that becomes available,' Inspector Clark said.
'The longer Gregory and Kim are missing the greater the concerns are for their welfare.'
Anyone with information, who saw a plane matching the description or noticed anything such as unusual debris on land or in the water was encouraged to contact Tasmania Police.
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