UPDATE: Wreckage has been located in the search for a missing plane that vanished over the Snowy Mountains during a flight from Wangaratta, Victoria, to Moruya Airport, New South Wales. The alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon, October 24, 2023, after pilot David Stephens, 74, failed to arrive as scheduled.
Emergency services were alerted around 4:30 PM on Tuesday when Stephens did not reach his destination. A multi-agency search, initially hindered by adverse weather conditions, resumed on Wednesday morning. Teams from NSW Police, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Snowy Hydro joined forces, supported by an aerial search from an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) rescue jet and two helicopters from Victoria and Sydney.
On Thursday at approximately 4 PM, a rescue helicopter spotted what is believed to be the crashed plane near its last known GPS coordinates, close to Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains. Police have yet to provide further updates on the condition of the pilot.
Before the wreckage was discovered, Stephens’ family spoke to the media, describing him as an experienced pilot who has been flying since the 1960s. “David loved to fly. He earned his pilot’s licence even before his driver’s licence in the 1960s,” they stated in a message to Nine News. “He must have seen a way over the mountains and decided not to turn back.”
Tony Rettke, president of the Frog’s Hollow Flyers aero club, emphasized Stephens’ proficiency, noting that his 1966 Beechcraft Debonair was recently serviced before his departure. “We’re all aware of the different possibilities in flying light aircraft, and David is very capable and very experienced to be flying the length that he has,” Rettke told Nine News.
As investigations continue, they have been transferred to NSW Police, who will provide ongoing updates regarding the search and rescue efforts.
The community remains on high alert as the situation develops. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as they work tirelessly to locate Stephens and understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Stay tuned for further updates as they become available, and share this urgent news with your network.
