alienation news

Searchers baffled by report of ditched plane

Police and Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard remained baffled over the fate of a plane reported crashed into the sea about 15km off Pukehina Beach near Te Puke.
Three holidaymakers having breakfast on their deck about 9.30am called police after watching what they believed was a low-flying plane level out and splashing into the sea.
Their call sparked a major search but after three hours of scouring the sea for signs of survivors or wreckage, nothing which could have come from a plane or microlight was found.
Mr Murray said the matter had to be treated seriously because it was such a credible sighting of the aircraft which appeared to be heading in the direction of Whakatane.
Flight plans had been checked, all airports and private airstrips in Bay of Plenty contacted by police but no aircraft was overdue or had been reported missing.