A search is underway for a plane missing in New South Wales.
Emergency services were notified at 4:30pm yesterdaTuesday that a light aircraft was overdue arriving at Moruya Airport on the Far South Coast.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the aircraft was flying from Wangaratta in Victoria with one person on board.
“Its last known position was in the Snowy Mountains, east of Khancoban, New South Wales,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“AMSA’s Essendon-based Challenger jet, Victorian ambulance emergency medical helicopter and a Toll rescue helicopter from Bankstown are assisting with the air search in this area.”
NSW Police said it was possible the plane crashed about 500 metres off Dargals Trail in the Snowy Valleys.
A search involving multiple agencies commenced on Tuesday.
A ground and aerial search assisted by NSW Police, NSW SES, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro continues.
The AMSA said the aerial search near Khancoban was suspended as of 4pm Wednesday”due to limited visibility” and would continue Thursday, weather permitting.
The ground search will continue until nightfall and is expected to recommence at first light.
“The ground-search teams will be faced with rugged and inaccessible alpine terrain impacted by recent heavy snow falls,” an AMSA spokesperson said.
On Tuesday temperatures at Khancoban ranged between five and 10 degrees Celsius, with snow showers forecast above 1,000 metres.
Snow showers are forecast for Thursday about the alpine ranges and temperatures near the search area expected to be as low as 2C.