Major multi-agency search underway for missing plane in NSW Snowy Mountains after light aircraft never arrived at Moruya Airport
Authorities said the plane, with one person on board, was flying to the NSW South Coast from Wangaratta in north-east Victoria when it failed to land at Moruya Airport on Tuesday.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the aircraft's last known position was in the Snowy Mountains, east of Khancoban in New South Wales.
A search for the missing plane was launched about 8.30am on Wednesday, but has since been suspended due to "limited visibility".
The AMSA confirmed the search operation will restart "at first light" on Thursday if weather conditions allow.
"About 4.35pm yesterday ... emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash, about 500m (off) Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys," police said in a statement.
"The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified by Air Services Australia that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived."
The AMSA's Essendon-based Challenger jet, Victorian Ambulance Emergency Medical helicopter and Toll rescue chopper from Bankstown have been deployed to help in the aerial search.
NSW Police, SES volunteers, National Parks and Wildlife crew, and Snowy Hydro ground search teams were also involved in the ground search.
Earlier, the AMSA warned search crews would face challenging conditions during the search including "rugged and inaccessible alpine terrain, impacted by recent heavy snow falls".
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