Boyfriend of passenger on missing joy flight raised alarm when plane failed to return

The worried partner of a passenger on the missing plane was waiting for her at the aerodrome and was the one to raise the alarm when the plane failed to return.

THE partner of the passenger missing in the suspected plane crash off the Gold Coast yesterday was sitting at the aerodrome waiting for her when he flagged to staff the plane had not returned.

Southport Flying Club aerodrome manager Steve Rance said the man was asked if he needed help when he was approached by one of the members just after 1pm.

“One of our members said ‘are you right mate?’”

“He said he was waiting for his girlfriend who had been on a flight that took off at 10am and was only supposed to go for half an hour.

“That’s when one of our members raised the alarm and we contacted Airservices (Australia.)”

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES

In pictures: Huge search off Coast

VIEW GALLERY

READ MORE

Pilot a ‘friendly, well liked’ member of Southport Flying Club

Debris, conditions, hamper rescue mission

Young mum was passenger in plane

Mr Rance said the pilot Marcel van Hattem, 52, was a well-respected member of the Southport Flying Club and as is general practice, made a radio call to the airfield shortly before taking off at 10am yesterday.

“He just said he was going to go to Jumpinpin for some aerobatic work,” Mr Rance said.

Police have not released the name of the passenger, but revealed she was a 31-year-old mother of one who had been given the flight as an early birthday present.

The search for the plane and its occupants continues.