Media Release

Search for missing aircraft, far northern New South Wales

The search for two men in a missing twin-engine Aerostar aircraft that failed to return from a training flight in the Byron Bay-Coolangatta region is continuing today.

Australian Search and Rescue is using 8 helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft to search a 1500 square nautical mile area extending from a position 10 nautical miles east of Byron Bay where debris from the aircraft was found last night. Two Volunteer Marine Rescue boats and a Police launch are also involved in the search.

The search commenced when the aircraft was reported overdue at about 4pm (AEDST) yesterday. The flight had commenced at about 1pm (AEDST) from Coolangatta Airport.

Air Traffic Control radar information has revealed that the aircraft began a rapid descent while flying east of Byron Bay.

Debris recovered last night included an Aerostar flight manual, aircraft insulation and a blanket.

Yesterday's search involved seven helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft. Attempts to search overnight using an aircraft equipped with Forward Looking Infra-Red equipment were unsuccessful due to a thunderstorm in the area.

The weather in the search area this morning is good.

Further information:

Ben Mitchell AMSA PR 0418 164 901

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