The search for a Tasmanian couple whose light aircraft vanished during a weekend flight over the Bass Strait has resumed today.
Multiple aircraft and a number of vessels are this morning combing the Bass Strait and coastline off Tasmania’s north.
A man in his 70s and the woman, in her 60s, disappeared on Saturday afternoon after taking off from George Town Airport.
Authorities say they were flying their bright green, two-seater plane to Central West New South Wales.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said search efforts, which continued until last light yesterday, resumed at 8am.
“AMSA’s Essendon-based challenger aircraft, Tasmania Police helicopter and two other fixed wing aircraft will be focusing on searching an area in the Bass Strait and northern Tasmania,” a spokesperson said.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark yesterday said the alarm was raised on Saturday night when the pair failed to arrive at their destination.
“This is still a search operation. We are hoping we find these people alive. That’s the main focus of the search at the moment,” Clark said on Sunday.
He said no distress calls were made before the plane disappeared.
Authorities are urging the public, especially those along the coastline or travelling across the Bass Strait, to remain on the lookout for the aircraft or and debris.
