A PILOT flying off Australia with his partner and their dog reportedly failed to contact authorities before their plane disappeared.
The two-seater aircraft took off from George Town in Northern Tasmania on Saturday afternoon.
On board was a man in his 70s, a female passenger in her 60s, and their dog, but none have been seen or heard from since.
The plane was set to stop in Leongatha in southern Victoria, before continuing to on to Hillston Airport in New South Wales.
But the aircraft never made it to its first stop — and no mayday call or radio contact was ever made.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has verified that the pilot did not establish contact before departure, though the investigation is ongoing to determine if the aircraft went missing prior to needing such communication.
The move has since stunned aviation experts, with George Town flight instructor Eugene Reid telling ABC: “You have to do scheduled reporting.
“On leaving the coast, they should have called up air services.”
Adding to the intrigue, the plane was said to have an emergency satellite beacon that ordinarily would have sent a signal if an issue arose — however, no alerts were received.
Reid also noted that local airports like George Town don’t always track individual flight plans.
“If someone took their plane out of the hangar and flew away, well, you wouldn’t know,” he said.
The revelation has since intensified the urgency of the multi-agency search, which entered its third day on Monday.
Authorities are scouring vast stretches of northern Tasmania, the Bass Strait, and southern Victoria with helicopters, aircraft, and marine crews.
They say the focus remains on finding the pair alive.
Police have confirmed the couple, both Tasmanian residents, were travelling to visit family in NSW when they disappeared.
AMSA confirmed the aircraft disappeared over Bass Strait after leaving George Town around 12.45pm.
The alarm was raised shortly after 5pm on Saturday by concerned relatives after the pair failed to arrive in NSW.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark said the pilot was “very experienced” and a key member of the local aero club.
But he added the plane itself was “new to him,” having only been purchased three to four months ago.
“We believe he has had several flights prior to this incident,” Clark said.
“Any body of water is difficult to search. The main thing is, though, that this is still a search operation.”
The disappearance triggered an immediate and large-scale search effort, coordinated by AMSA.
Air and marine assets from Tasmania Police, Victoria Police, and regional airline Par Avion have been combing the area.
AMSA previously said: “Just after 5pm on Saturday evening, concern was raised after the aircraft failed to land in Central Western NSW.
“Search efforts are underway across northern Tasmania around George Town, over the Bass Strait and southern Victoria around Morwell and Leongatha.”
Travelers in the George Town area, across Bass Strait, or along the southern coast of Victoria are encouraged to promptly inform AMSA or Tasmania Police if they notice any debris.
Inspector Clark directly appealed to the community, urging: “Be on the lookout for any wreckage or items like a life jacket or fragments of the airplane.”
“If you find people in the water and it’s safe to do so, please render them assistance.”
The Sun has contacted AMSA and Tasmania police for more information.
