Rescuers search for twin-engine aircraft bound for the Bahamas which vanished off the South Carolina coast

  • A plane went missing while en route to the Bahamas from South Carolina
  • The Piper PA-31 Navajo departed from Robert. F Swinnie Airport on Thursday 
  • The plane vanished from radar around 110 miles east of Charleston
  • It is not known how many passengers were on-board or who owned the plane 

A plane travelling from South Carolina to the Bahamas has gone missing as rescuers search for its whereabouts.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Piper PA-31 aircraft went missing around 11.33am, 110 miles south-southeast of Charleston on Thursday.

The plane departed from Robert F Swinnie Airport in Andrews and was en route to the Bahamas.

The Piper PA-31 aircraft that went missing  off the coast of South Carolina is similar to the one pictured 

The Piper PA-31 aircraft that went missing  off the coast of South Carolina is similar to the one pictured 

Both US Coast Guard and the US Navy are searching the area.

The Coast Guard said the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

Coast Guard officials confirmed that  they were responding to a downed aircraft.

However they could not confirm the number of passengers or the crew complement until next of kin are notified.

It is understood that the aircraft recorded 'an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the [Air Force Rescue Coordination Center]'.

The Coast Guard said in a tweet: ‘Crews are responding to a downed civilian aircraft approximately 110 miles east of Charleston, SC.

‘USCG has multiple assets searching the aircraft's last known location’.

The aircraft went missing around 11.33 am 110 miles south-southeast of Charleston

The aircraft went missing around 11.33 am 110 miles south-southeast of Charleston

According to reports, the aircraft lost contact on radar and notified the Air Force Rescue Coordination Centre. 

Several military aircraft and ships were also busy assisting with the search yesterday.  

The Piper PA-31 Navajo belongs to a family of small, cabin-class, twin-engined aircraft, whose popularity has fallen since the 1980s.

Production of the Pa-31 model ceased in 1984 due to a fall in demand with this type of aircraft.

The plane took off  from Robert F Swinnie Airport which located two miles east of the central business district of Andrews

The plane took off  from Robert F Swinnie Airport which located two miles east of the central business district of Andrews

Federal records show the missing PA-31 is registered to a company based in Delaware.

It is unknown how many people were on board the plane, but a Piper PA-31 aircraft is capable of carrying up to nine passengers.

It was scheduled to fly to Governor’s Harbour Airport on Eleuthera island in the Bahamas.

The plane is believed to have crashed into the ocean.

 

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