Major search underway after light plane carrying two goes missing between Tasmania to NSW
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Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Couple missing after plane vanished named
A Tasmanian couple who are missing after their light plane took off from the state's north coast then failed to arrive at their destination three days ago have been identified. Gregory Vaughan, 72, his partner Kim Worner, 66, and their dog Molly, have not been seen or heard from since their green Bristell S-LSA aircraft took off from George Town airport about 12.45pm on Saturday. The plane was scheduled to arrive in central NSW later that day but never landed, prompting family and friends to raise the alarm. The plane is a two-seater Bristell S-LSA in distinctive green colour and has not been seen since it took off from George Town airport in Tasmania. Credit: Supplied Tasmanian Police inspector Nick Clark said the missing couple had not been in contact with anyone or aviation authorities since they left George Town. A police helicopter search of Tasmania's north coastline between George Town and Turners Beach on Tuesday failed to locate any sighting of the plane. Inclement weather and low cloud has complicated search conditions, while boats did not go out on the water due to the rough conditions. Missing couple Gregory Vaughan, 72, his partner Kim Worner, 66, and their dog Molly, were in a light sport aircraft. Credit: Supplied Inspector Clark said police would continue searching on Wednesday. 'Significant resources have been used in the search and Pol Air will continue to be used over the next two days, at which time the search efforts will be reassessed based on any possible new information that becomes available,' he said. 'The longer Gregory and Kim are missing the greater the concerns are for their welfare. 'If anyone has information that could assist the search, has seen a plane matching this description, or noticed anything such as unusual debris on land or in the water, they should contact Tasmania Police.'
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Police hold 'grave concerns' as search for missing plane enters fourth day
As the search for a missing light aircraft continues in the Bass Strait, and police have said they have grave concerns for the occupants. The search for the married couple, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s and their dog entered a fourth day on August 5, focusing on Tasmania's coastline. A Tasmania Police helicopter crew is searching the northern coastline between George Town and Turner's Beach, with marine vessels grounded due to poor weather conditions. The bright-green twin-seat light plane took off from George Town Airport at around 12:45 on August 2. There has been no communication from the aircraft or the couple since then. Family members raised the alarm after the aircraft failed to arrive at its central New South Wales destination. Extensive searches involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet and Tasmania Police helicopters and marine vessels followed, but have yielded no sign of the couple or their plane. Tasmania Police Northern Commander Marco Ghedini said the police are concerned for the missing couple. "As we enter the fourth day of searching, police hold grave concerns for the missing couple," he said. Commander Ghedini said a further assessment of the search will be made in the coming days. Police have asked anyone with information that could assist the search, such as a plane matching the description, or anyone who has noticed any unusual debris on land or in the water, to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444. As the search for a missing light aircraft continues in the Bass Strait, and police have said they have grave concerns for the occupants. The search for the married couple, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s and their dog entered a fourth day on August 5, focusing on Tasmania's coastline. A Tasmania Police helicopter crew is searching the northern coastline between George Town and Turner's Beach, with marine vessels grounded due to poor weather conditions. The bright-green twin-seat light plane took off from George Town Airport at around 12:45 on August 2. There has been no communication from the aircraft or the couple since then. Family members raised the alarm after the aircraft failed to arrive at its central New South Wales destination. Extensive searches involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet and Tasmania Police helicopters and marine vessels followed, but have yielded no sign of the couple or their plane. Tasmania Police Northern Commander Marco Ghedini said the police are concerned for the missing couple. "As we enter the fourth day of searching, police hold grave concerns for the missing couple," he said. Commander Ghedini said a further assessment of the search will be made in the coming days. Police have asked anyone with information that could assist the search, such as a plane matching the description, or anyone who has noticed any unusual debris on land or in the water, to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444. As the search for a missing light aircraft continues in the Bass Strait, and police have said they have grave concerns for the occupants. The search for the married couple, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s and their dog entered a fourth day on August 5, focusing on Tasmania's coastline. A Tasmania Police helicopter crew is searching the northern coastline between George Town and Turner's Beach, with marine vessels grounded due to poor weather conditions. The bright-green twin-seat light plane took off from George Town Airport at around 12:45 on August 2. There has been no communication from the aircraft or the couple since then. Family members raised the alarm after the aircraft failed to arrive at its central New South Wales destination. Extensive searches involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet and Tasmania Police helicopters and marine vessels followed, but have yielded no sign of the couple or their plane. Tasmania Police Northern Commander Marco Ghedini said the police are concerned for the missing couple. "As we enter the fourth day of searching, police hold grave concerns for the missing couple," he said. Commander Ghedini said a further assessment of the search will be made in the coming days. Police have asked anyone with information that could assist the search, such as a plane matching the description, or anyone who has noticed any unusual debris on land or in the water, to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444. As the search for a missing light aircraft continues in the Bass Strait, and police have said they have grave concerns for the occupants. The search for the married couple, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s and their dog entered a fourth day on August 5, focusing on Tasmania's coastline. A Tasmania Police helicopter crew is searching the northern coastline between George Town and Turner's Beach, with marine vessels grounded due to poor weather conditions. The bright-green twin-seat light plane took off from George Town Airport at around 12:45 on August 2. There has been no communication from the aircraft or the couple since then. Family members raised the alarm after the aircraft failed to arrive at its central New South Wales destination. Extensive searches involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet and Tasmania Police helicopters and marine vessels followed, but have yielded no sign of the couple or their plane. Tasmania Police Northern Commander Marco Ghedini said the police are concerned for the missing couple. "As we enter the fourth day of searching, police hold grave concerns for the missing couple," he said. Commander Ghedini said a further assessment of the search will be made in the coming days. Police have asked anyone with information that could assist the search, such as a plane matching the description, or anyone who has noticed any unusual debris on land or in the water, to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Pilot failed to contact authorities as plane vanishes over Bass Strait
The pilot whose plane disappeared over the Bass Strait failed to contact authorities before departing on Saturday. Police are on the second day of their search for a couple – a pilot aged in his 70s, his partner, aged in her 60s, and their pet dog – whose light plane disappeared over the Bass Strait on Saturday. The plane took off from George Town Airport in Tasmania's northeast on Saturday afternoon and was expected to arrive at Hillston Airport in western NSW. The couple were planning to spend time with their family. However, after the plane failed to arrive after 5pm the same day, the family raised the alarm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed the search for the missing couple and their dog would continue on Monday morning. While it is not known what model the plane is, it has been described as bright green in colour. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Tasmania Police Inspector Nicholas Clark said the pilot was believed to be 'very experienced'. 'The pilot was heavily involved with the aero club here at George Town,' he said. However, he added the plane was 'new to (the pilot)', as he had only purchased it three or months before the disappearance. He said the pilot made no contact with authorities while travelling over Bass Strait. The search resumed on Monday morning, with four aircraft, including the AMSA Challenger jet, a Tasmania Police helicopter and two aeroplanes taking part. The search also involves the Maritime Safety Authority, which is spanning a specific area of the Bass Strait near northern Tasmania. Speaking to the ABC, George Town flight instructor Eugene Reid said pilots were required to make 'scheduled reporting' when flying over Bass Strait, adding the pilot 'should have called up air services' upon leaving the coast. While pilots were supposed to inform traffic controllers of their movements, pilots of small planes such as this one were not legally required to have tracking services installed, he added. 'You can take off in an aircraft and fly across Bass Strait, making your radio calls and the only thing you have to carry is an EPIRB (emergency beacon) like they have on a boat,' Mr Reid told the outlet. The beacon sends off an emergency signal to nearby satellites. 'But you have to turn that on,' he said. 'It doesn't activate itself.'
