Vintage plane on a 30-minute scenic flight vanishes with two people on board - as rescue teams say they may have found part of the wreckage
- A vintage plane is believed to have crashed after it disappeared on Wednesday
- The Yak 52, carrying two people, was meant to be on 30-minute scenic route
- A rescue mission began when the plane failed to return to Southport Airfield
- Rescuers have found part of the aircraft propeller, a source has claimed
A private plane with two people on board is believed to have crashed off the Gold Coast after rescuers reportedly found part of the aircraft wreckage.
The vintage plane, which is understood to have been carrying a pilot and a tourist, was supposed to be heading on a 30-minute scenic flight when it took off from Southport Airfield in Coombabah about 10am on Wednesday.
But when the privately owned Yak 52, which was last seen flying over South Stradbroke Island around 10.30am, failed to return the alarm was raised and an urgent rescue mission commenced.
(File picture) The privately owned Yak 52, which was last seen flying over South Stradbroke Island around 10.30am, failed to return to Southport Airfield
Air Traffic Control alerted the Australian Marine Safety Authority and a search began just after 1.15pm.
A number of jet-skis and a rescue helicopter was also deployed to look for the AWOL aircraft.
During the search the helicopter was forced to divert to help a capsized boat with four people on board near to the Seaway.
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Police then joined in the search around 3pm.
But fears the plane has crashed continue to mount as the rescue team has reportedly found part of the aircraft propeller.
A police source confirmed part of the propeller was discovered on the South Stradbroke Island beach, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
Air Traffic Control alerted the Australian Marine Safety Authority and a search began just after 1.15pm (Stradbroke Island pictured)
The vintage plane departed Southport around 10am and was reported missing around 1.15pm by Air Traffic Control
No other debris has yet been uncovered.
An Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesperson told the publication the rescue mission was ongoing.
'AMSA has commenced a search and rescue response for a missing light aircraft in the vicinity of Stradbroke Island, Queensland,' the spokesperson said.
'Air Traffic Control contacted AMSA at about (1.15pm) to report that the missing plane with two people on board had failed to return after departing Southport airfield on a 30 minute scenic flight at 10am local time.
'The aircraft is a Yak 52, a soviet era training aircraft often used for aerobatics and scenic flights.'
During the search the helicopter was forced to divert to help a capsized vessel with four people on board near to the Seaway (Vessel passengers pictured)
The spokesperson said no contact had been made with the aircraft as of yet.
He said rescuers were 'sourcing aerial assets' in a bid to track and search the route the plane would have likely taken.
Local pilots have since said they weren't aware of any Yak 52 planes operating commercially in the area.
But the pilots noted the Southport airport was usually used by private pilots.
The search will continue throughout the night.
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