Air and ground search is now underway in Vanua Levu as rescue officers try to find the Pacific Flying School plane which has been missing since 12.30pm yesterday.
The two people on board - instructor Iliesa Tawalo and trainee pilot, Merelesita Lutu had their last contact just after midday yesterday.
The Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre says that they have a forward staging team on the ground in Labasa focused on operations and coordinating with the search and rescue workers, Police and Airports Fiji Limited.
#SAR (Vanua Levu) Air assets continue their search today while ground search teams involving RFMF & Police also cover their search areas.
— FMSRCC (@fmsrcc) February 27, 2018
Weather continues to impact operations at times.
Contact the Rescue Coordination Center on 3316204 for information #Fiji #TeamFiji pic.twitter.com/2sgs7cjxVk
Two aircraft are now engaged in the search while the ground search team of RFMF and Police are combing the area on foot.
The joint Police and RFMF search party started their search near Vunikavula Hills in Vanua Levu earlier today.
#SAR (Vanua Levu) An Air Rescue team of @fmsrcc Navy SAR officers and @VFRfiji Rescue medics now enroute with comms gear, drone and Rescue medical gear to continue with SAR efforts. Additional aircraft tasking coordinated with MoD as SAR line ministry #DQFTR #Fiji #TeamFiji pic.twitter.com/VLG8fBzIoV
— FMSRCC (@fmsrcc) February 26, 2018
The search also continues in Doguru and Delaikoro.
The Flying School has said that the plane left Nadi at 7.30am yesterday and was last located in Vanua Levu at about 12.30pm yesterday.
Fijivillage has received confirmation that the Flying School plane left Nadi with flight instructor, Iliesa Tawalo and two female trainee pilots.
Merelesita Lutu and flight instructor Iliesa Tawalo
One of the trainee pilots, Kalara Derederenalagi got off at Labasa Airport and the instructor and the other trainee pilot, Merelesita Lutu then went towards Savusavu Airport.
They could not land there due to bad weather and decided to fly back and land in Labasa.
However, the plane is missing since 12.30pm yesterday.
CAAF is yet to comment.
Meanwhile, a resident of Kawakawa, Waiqele in Labasa says he saw a small aircraft making rounds in his area between 11.30am and 12pm yesterday.
Mahendra Kumar told Fijivillage that he was in his farm when he heard the sound of the aircraft and saw it making three rounds before it disappeared.
