Debris found on South Stradbroke Island during search for missing Gold Coast plane

Search and rescue crews have revealed debris from another incident and tricky conditions are “hampering” their efforts as they search for a vintage plane missing off the Gold Coast.

UNRELATED debris found washed up on Gold Coast beaches has hampered the rescue mission for a vintage plane missing off the Coast.

The large scale air and sea search resumed at first light this morning after crews failed to recover the plane, or the pilot and passenger on board when the alarm was raised last night.

Water Police search and rescue co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Jay Notaro confirmed that just before 5pm last night a “small amount” of debris, “consistent” with the missing Yak 52 aircraft was discovered in the area, with more found washed up on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island this morning.

“A lot of that debris has been within the waves and conditions at the moment are quite tricky and that is hampering our efforts,” he said.

A police boat taking part in the search operation today. Picture: Nigel Hallett

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Crews continue to comb the area for clues, with the assistance of the SLSQ rescue helicopter, police divers, jetskis and boats.

However Surf Life Saving Queensland Chief Pilot Paul Gibson said items from a separate boat accident off Main Beach yesterday afternoon have been interfering with clues as to what happened to the missing plane.

The SLSQ rescue chopper stopped midway through their plane search yesterday to bring the four boaties back to shore safely after their vessel overturned.

“Crews have noticed that the debris from that overturned tinnie is also washing up on the beach where this missing aircraft is suspected to have been lost,” Mr Gibson said.

He said conditions yesterday had made the search more challenging on the water.

“The wind was quite strong, it was probably a 20 knots southerly, which was producing small white caps on the ocean surface so that was making visibility difficult,” he said.

“The general conditions of the water weren’t that conducive to a good search.”

Police officers involved in the search. Picture: Nigel Hallett

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Mr Gibson said SLSQ were called in to help with the search around 2pm yesterday and conducted two searches of the flight area within a three-hour period.

The investigation is now being led by the police Forensic Crash Unit and Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Snr Sgt Notaro said part of the investigation will look at why it took so long for the alarm to be raised after the plane failed to return safely.

He said it was still being treated as an “active” rescue.

“There is still hope and we are actively looking,” he said.

Snr Sgt Notaro urged residents to stay away from the search area and to report, but not touch, any clues that they find.