THE search for a missing aircraft destined for Tobago from St Vincent remains a high priority, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour said yesterday.
Via a WhatsApp exchange, Zakour said on Friday, a Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft, registered in the Dominican Republic with registration number HI1145, departed Argyle International Airport, St Vincent, destined for ANR Robinson International Airport, Tobago.
The minister noted that the aircraft departed Argyle at 11.52 a.m. (local time) with two people on board and fuel for five hours, estimating arrival in Tobago at 12.30 p.m. (local time).
“The last contact with the aircraft was made by Argyle Approach Control at approximately 12.11 p.m. Shortly thereafter, all contact was lost with the aircraft,” he said.
According to Zakour, the Piarco Area Control Centre activated its Emergency and Search and Rescue protocols, with all available ground stations and aircraft attempting to make either visual or voice contact with the aircraft.
He explained: “All the necessary coordination was effected with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and other regional search and rescue agencies.”
No contact
He said both private and military aircraft have visually searched the area around the last known position of the aircraft.
Despite those search efforts, the minister said there has been no contact with the aircraft and no indication, visual or otherwise, that could help locate it.
However, he emphasised that the search for the aircraft remains the highest priority and all efforts between regional security services and air traffic services to determine the location of the aircraft continue.
