Light plane with two passengers reported missing after failing to land in Paraparaumu

Sunday, 29 September 2019

Emergency services are searching the plane's expected flight path.

A light plane and its two passengers were reported missing at 8pm on Sunday after failing to land in Paraparaumu.

The plane, believed to be a two-seater Tecnam, left Fox Pine airfield, near Foxton, at about 3.15pm and was scheduled to land at Paraparaumu at 8pm.

Police, Fire and Emergency, a helicopter, and Maritime New Zealand are searching its expected flight path, said Vince Cholewa, communications manager for Maritime New Zealand.

'The search began because It didn't land when it was supposed to,' he said.

'No assumptions are being made about what has happened.'

Cholewa said the plane was not expected to have gone over the sea.

He said police were in touch with the two passengers' families.