Urgent Search Underway After Light Aircraft Disappears Over Bass Strait

Plane goes missing over 'large body of water' as experts dub it 'new MH370'

A wide-scale search has been launched after a light aircraft mysteriously vanished without sending a distress signal during a flight from Tasmania to New South Wales, echoing the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 more than a decade ago.

The two-seater plane, carrying 72-year-old pilot Gregory Vaughan, his partner Kim Warner, 66, and their dog Molly, departed George Town Airport at around 12:45pm on August 2. Their planned journey included a stop in Victoria before arriving at Hillston Airport near Condobolin, NSW. Concern grew when the aircraft failed to arrive by 5pm and no communication had been received from the couple.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating a multi-agency search spanning northern Tasmania, the Bass Strait, and southern Victoria. Aircraft, helicopters, marine vessels including a ferry, and police boats have been deployed in the operation.

The plane's flight path before it disappeared

George Town flight instructor Eugene Reid expressed confusion over the disappearance, noting that pilots are required to conduct scheduled reporting when leaving the coast. He explained that smaller airports like George Town do not always monitor individual flight plans, making detection difficult. The aircraft was equipped with an emergency satellite beacon, but no signal has been detected.

Tasmania Police confirmed it is supporting the ongoing search. Authorities were first alerted after concerned family members reported the plane overdue. Inspector Nick Clark said Vaughan was an experienced pilot and a familiar member of the local flying club but noted that the aircraft was relatively new to him, having been purchased just a few months earlier. He added: “Any body of water is difficult to search. The main thing is, though, that this is still a search operation.”

The couple took off from George Town Airport in Tasmania

Inspector Craig Fox reported that helicopter sweeps had not uncovered any debris or wreckage, though daily reviews of search efforts would continue. No timeline has yet been set for suspending the mission.

The disappearance has drawn comparisons to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board during its journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Aviation experts continue to debate theories surrounding MH370, including claims of hijacking, as the tragedy remains one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries.