29 September 2005 Immediate Release
Media Release
Search for missing aircraft
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority will continue coordinating a search today for a light aircraft overdue between Murwillumbah and Coonabarabran in northern New South Wales.
The Rescue Coordination Centre was notified late yesterday afternoon by a relative of the two elderly people on board that the Beech 36 single-engine aircraft had been due into Coonabarabran on Saturday 24 September 2005.
Shortly after 4.00pm yesterday, two search and rescue helicopters were tasked to search along the flight path. Additionally, a Chieftan PA31 fixed wing aircraft with Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) camera capability continued searching until nearly midnight last night.
AMSA will continue searching today and currently 13 aircraft and 5 helicopters are available to assist with the search.
AMSA also is requesting assistance from any member of the public who may have seen the missing aircraft during Saturday 24 September 2005 anywhere along the flight path between Coonabarabran and Murwillumbah, possibly via Inverell, to contact the Rescue Coordiantion centre on 1800 815 257.
Further Information: Adrian Rollins 0400 016 845
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