Fears are mounting for a couple and their dog who have been missing for five days after taking off in a light plane from Tasmania.
Pilot Gregory Vaughan, 72, his partner Kim Worner, 66, and their dog Molly left George Town Airport for Hillston Airport in central New South Wales via regional Victoria about 12.45pm on Saturday.
The plane failed to arrive at its destination by the scheduled time, prompting concerned family members to raise the alarm that evening.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark said Vaughan and Worner have not been in contact with anyone, including aviation authorities, since they departed George Town.
Search crews have been trying to find the bright green two-seater Bristell S-LSA over the Bass Strait, northern Tasmania and southern Victoria near Morwell and Leongatha.
Yesterday, a police helicopter conducted sweeps between George Town and Turners Beach to no avail.
The search will resume today as police release images of the couple and their plane.
Police hold “grave concerns” for the missing tro and will reassess their search efforts tomorrow if they are unable to find the plane.
Their efforts have been hampered by days of unpleasant weather, low clouds and rough sea conditions.
“Significant resources have been utilised in the search and Pol Air will continue to be used over the next two days, at which time the search efforts will be re-assessed based on any possible new information that becomes available,” Clark said.
“The longer Gregory and Kim are missing the greater the concerns are for their welfare.”
Police are appealing to anyone who may have spotted the distinctive plane or noticed any unusal debris on land or water to contact them.
