14 DAY TRIAL // A small plane carrying the CEO of prestigious Italian fashion house Missoni, Vittorio Missoni, his wife Maurizia Castiglioni, and 4 others has gone missing off the coast of Venezuela, it has been confirmed.
The plane vanished shortly after takeoff on Friday mid-morning, with authorities being forced to call off searches late on Friday because of the dark, the New York Daily News reports.
The searches were resumed on Saturday but, as of now, still no sign of the missing aircraft.
According to international aviation legislation, the plane and its passengers are considered missing.
“Italian fashion mogul Vittorio Missoni and his wife were among six people missing Saturday after their small plane vanished off the coast of Venezuela,” the NY Daily News reports.
The couple, two of their Italian friends and two crew members were headed to Caracas after spending the holidays in Los Roques, but never made it to their destination.
“Rescue crews resumed the search Saturday morning in the waters near the island resort of Los Roques, where the aircraft took off about midmorning Friday,” the publication further says.
“Missoni was scheduled to fly back to Italy on Friday from Simon Bolivar International Airport, his company said. He was expected to be on hand for the unveiling next month in Milan of his company’s new clothing designs,” the report notes.
“Officials said the plane disappeared from radar shortly after taking off on what was expected to be a 90-mile flight to the mainland,” the NY Daily News adds.
Even though officially missing, relatives, friends and associates are still hoping the search will end by finding the six safe and sound.
A similar incident occurred in December, when beloved singer Jenni Rivera went missing after the plane that was carrying her to Toluca after a concert slipped off the radar.
The flight was supposed to last an hour. The plane was found later on: it had crashed and no one survived the impact.