MH370 déjà vu? Here's what we know about the mysterious disappearance of a private plane over Tasmania

A private jet has mysteriously vanished over Tasmania, Australia, drawing eerie comparisons to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 nearly a decade ago.

According to reports, the two-seater aircraft went missing on August 2. Its sudden disappearance has sparked a flurry of concern, especially since it vanished without issuing a mayday call—much like the infamous MH370 case.

Here’s what we know so far:

The aircraft was carrying a pilot in his 70s, his partner in her 60s, and their dog. The couple has been identified as 72-year-old Gregory Vaughan and 66-year-old Kim Worner.


The flight was en route to New South Wales after making a scheduled stop in Leongatha, located in Southern Victoria. However, the plane never reached its intended destination.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed that no distress signal or mayday call was made prior to the aircraft vanishing.

The plane departed from George Town, Tasmania, around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday. Concerns were raised when it failed to land in Central Western New South Wales by 5 p.m.

AMSA is leading the investigation into the aircraft’s disappearance. Officials have reiterated that no emergency communication was received from the pilot before contact was lost.

The pilot, described as “experienced,” had owned the distinctive “bright green” aircraft for three to four months prior to the incident. Authorities have refrained from disclosing the make and model of the plane to avoid revealing the couple's identity.

In a statement, AMSA urged people in the region—especially those near the Bass Strait—to “keep a sharp lookout” for any signs of the missing plane.

Search efforts involving Tasmania Police, AMSA, and Victoria Police have been concentrated along Tasmania’s northern coastline, particularly between George Town and Turners Beach.

The mystery continues to unfold as authorities work against time to locate the missing aircraft and determine what caused its sudden disappearance.