Waters Off Botany Bay Closed Today

[mrmoshe]

Be aware that waters around will be closed to all traffic today to search for the wreckage

of the freight plane that crashed after taking off from Sydney Airport overnight.

An air, land and sea exclusion zone is in place between Cronulla and Stanwell Park, five nautical miles (9.25km) out to sea and about 3km inland from the coast.

Sydney plane missing

Searchers have found debris floating in the sea south-east of Sydney near the last known location of a missing plane.

About 6am (AEST) today members of a Maritime Safety Authority search and rescue team found boxes, bags and fibreglass debris believed to be from the aircraft which was on a mail run to Brisbane after leaving Sydney last night.

"With the fibreglass on the water surface this looks as though it could be the scene of where the aircraft has hit the water,'' a search and rescue spokeswoman told AAP.

"Water police officers report that they could smell aviation fuel in the area.

"We haven't recovered a body, and a range of private, police and military aircraft continue to search."

Sonar equipment is en route to the scene, about 9km south-east of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.

An air, land and sea exclusion zone is in place between Cronulla and Stanwell Park, five nautical miles (9.25km) out to sea and about 3km inland from the coast.

The plane took off from Sydney Airport about 11.30pm (AEST) last night. The male pilot, the Metroliner's only occupant, reported problems 10 nautical miles (18.5km) after take-off.

AAP

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Oil slick clue to missing mail plane

A FREIGHT plane is missing after taking off from Sydney airport overnight.

The Metroliner aircraft operated by Airtex Aviation was occupied only by the male pilot and took off from Sydney bound for Brisbane at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday, a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.

"Ten nautical miles (18.5km) south-east of the airport, air traffic control got a broadcast from the pilot that he was having problems," the spokesman said.

"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4000 feet (1219 metres)."

The aircraft's last reported location puts the Metroliner off the coast from Bundeena in the Royal National Park where a search operation has concentrated its efforts overnight.

A number of parcels, believed to have been aboard the aircraft, have been found in the water, a NSW Police spokesman said.

"Polair have spotted an oil slick in the water," the police spokesman said.

"Water police, Polair and a Sea Hawk helicopter have spent the night searching in an operation run by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra."

The Metroliner, a 19-seat aircraft when used as a passenger plane, is believed to have been on a mail run.

"This particular aircraft was first registered in Australia in February 1998," the CASA spokesman said.

"We don't know what the problem was the pilot was alluding to, he didn't give any details in his broadcast, but obviously that is something we will look into as part of our investigations."

[Tony Soprano]

Poor bugger

I hope he turns up alive but it doesn't sound good at this stage...

My thoughts are with his family.

Tony

[fisherdad]

We hit the water at Dawn and were out at Osborne Shoal soon after.

The Wife rang and told us about the Exclusion Zone. About the same tine the Air search started mainly to the south. Not 2 Mins later we notices a police Boat approaching at speed expecting to be asked to move on.

He took a bit of a look and headed SE.

I was surprised that there was no announcement of the Exclusion Zone on Channel 88

We played with the Leather jackets a bit more then headed inside the mate i had taken was turning green and planning to evolve into a Burley Machine.

David