Bass Strait search underway for missing aircraft flying from Tasmania to New South Wales

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Authorities remain hopeful of finding a Tasmania couple whose plane disappeared after taking off from George Town airport on Saturday but after two days of extensive land and sea searches no sign has been found of the pair or their plane.  The incident has shaken the close-knit aviation community in northern Tasmania.

Transcript

00:00Two days ago, a couple and their dog took off from this small airport in northern Tasmania.

00:09The pilot, a man in his 70s, and his wife, aged in her 60s, haven't been heard from since.

00:15The twin-seat green plane left Georgetown at about 12.45 on Saturday afternoon,

00:22planning to stop at Leangatha in Victoria to refuel,

00:26before continuing to Hilston Airport in central western New South Wales.

00:31But it's been radio silence since take-off.

00:34We're not aware of any communication they've made after they left Georgetown Airport.

00:39The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and police in Tasmania and Victoria

00:45have spent another day scouring northern Tasmania, southern Victoria and Bass Strait.

00:51using boats, helicopters and aircraft, including AMSA's search and rescue jets.

00:58Police say the pilots provided a flight note to a family member

01:02who raised the alarm when the couple didn't arrive at their destination.

01:06Including that was a specific time, a SAR time,

01:10a time that if they hadn't arrived at their destination,

01:13requesting that person to contact authorities,

01:15and that's what occurred in this place.

01:17They didn't arrive at their destination by a certain time.

01:20The aviation community here is small, but tight-knit.

01:24And the disappearance of the pair and the plane

01:26has fellow pilots deeply concerned.

01:30We're all feeling rather devastated.

01:32I mean, there's 25 aeroplanes here at Georgetown,

01:35and another private strip only 20 kilometres that way

01:38with another 25 aeroplanes,

01:39so it's 50 aeroplanes in quite a close area.

01:43And we all know each other.

01:44Authorities aren't giving up on finding the couple alive.

01:47As time does progress, it becomes of more concern

01:53when we haven't located an aircraft or persons or occupants or debris,

01:59but we do remain hopeful for a positive outcome.

02:02Authorities are prepared to continue searching tomorrow.

02:05Authorities are prepared to continue checking out

02:06because it'S fairly cool to forward and discover what we do.

02:09It starts mixing as bricks.

02:10It's quite a while.

02:11And there is a quick scenario of a re committee

02:12headed into operation.

02:13The developer ladder starts doing ś

02:17сем heap of people togetherera-

02:21I don't know what's going on there.

02:22I don't know who youED on there.

02:24We did a great conversation with society,

02:25but I guarantee you,

02:27it's a horrible factor,

02:27but it's an enormous factor.

02:30It doesn't matter.

02:30It can't be interesting.

02:32Do you need to hear what I made?

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