Bad seas hamper plane crash search

Emergency services are resuming the search for a second man after a light plane crashed off the southern NSW coast, killing a man in his 60s.

Rough sea is hampering the search mission in waters off the NSW far south coast for a man feared dead after a light plane crash.

The plane crashed into the ocean off Barlings Beach, south of Batemans Bay after leaving Moruya airport before midday on Sunday, police say.

A man in his 60s, believed to be Graham White from Wagga Wagga, died after being pulled from the water.

Mr White was an experienced pilot with 19,000 hours of flying experience as well as being a flying instructor at Moruya Aero Club.

Another man about the same age is still missing.

But a duty office from Moruya told AAP at midday on Monday neither the wreckage nor the man has been located.

Divers from Sydney arrived in the area on Sunday night to help search waters about 1km off the headland at Tomakin.

Buoys have been place in the water around the wreckage site.

"Because of the wind the search is taking longer than expected," said Far South Coast Local Area Command crime manager Kevin McNeil .

Witnesses say the aircraft was seen crashing into the water soon after 12.15pm, reportedly about 45 minutes after take-off.

There are reports that a piece of the plane may have fallen off.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
Bad seas hamper plane crash search | SBS News