Search continues for light plane missing over Bass Strait
Australia
tasmania
Transport CONTACT US
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
8 hours 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.'
9 News
13 hours ago
- 9 News
Search continues for light plane missing over Bass Strait
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A search resumed this morning for a light plane that is believed to have gone missing over Bass Strait. The plane, which had two people and a dog on board, took off from George Town Airport in Tasmania on Saturday, but did not arrive at its destination at Hillston Airport, west of Condoblin in central western New South Wales . It was also supposed to have a scheduled stopover in Leongatha in Victoria's Gippsland region. It is believed a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s were on board the flight. "Just after 5pm on Saturday evening, concern was raised after the aircraft failed to land in Central Western NSW, after departing George Town, Tasmania at around 12.45 pm," a statement from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said. An AMSA spokesperson said the pilot had made no contact with authorities. The search took place yesterday until last light, before resuming this morning. AMSA currently has one of its planes - a Challenger aircraft - involved in the search effort. (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Parts of both Tasmania and Victoria are being searched, with an AMSA aircraft and Tasmania police helicopter today focusing on an area in the Bass Strait and northern Tasmania. "Anyone with information is urged to contact the AMSA Response Centre on 02 6279 5700," a Tasmania Police statement said. "AMSA and Tasmania Police urges anyone in George Town or transiting the waters in northern Tasmania and Bass Strait to please keep a sharp lookout for any signs of a light aircraft or its occupants, and if safe to do so, render assistance." national Australia tasmania Transport CONTACT US
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Wild detail after pilot's disappearance
The pilot whose plane disappeared over the Bass Strait failed to contact authorities before departing on Saturday. The search for the missing couple and their dog continues. Tasmania Police Credit: News Corp Australia 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. AMSA's rescue jet searches for the missing plane in the Bass Strait. FlightRadar24 Credit: News Corp Australia 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. The pilot failed to contact authorities as the plane flew over Bass Strait, authorities said. Tasmania Police Credit: Supplied 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. Tasmania Police and Victoria Police are working to locate the missing plane. Tasmania Police Credit: Supplied 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.' NewsWire has contacted the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for comment.
