About 4.35pm yesterday (Tuesday, July 15, 2025), emergency services were notified of a possible plane crash, about 500m of Dargals Trail, Snowy Valleys. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified by Air Services Australia that a plane took off from Victoria, bound for Moruya Airport; however, it never arrived.
PHOTO: Dargals Trail, is in the Jagungal wilderness area of Kosciuszko National Park CREDIT: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
A spokesperson for NSW Police said, “A command post was established and a search commenced involving officers attached to the NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, with assistance from NSW and Victoria Ambulance Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre airwing, but the plane could not be located.”
MAP: The search continues around Dargals Trail, which is about 20kms north-east of Khancoban CREDIT: Google Maps
“About 8.30am today (Wednesday, July 16), the multi-agency search resumed involving officers attached to NSWS Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, State Emergency Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Snowy Hydro.”
“The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and 2 helicopters, from Victoria and Sydney are conducting an overhead search.”
The search by emergency services continues, with recent snowfalls in the region adding to the difficulty.
UPDATE: Thursday July 17, 2025 – About 10am today, the search resumed for a missing plane in the Snowy Mountains.
PHOTO: Recent snowfall and foggy conditions aren’t aiding in the search CREDITS: NSW Police
The search is led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), with assistance from NSW Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit, NSW Police Alpine Operations Unit, NSW SES, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the ACT Policing Alpine Unit involved in the ground search.
PHOTO: The search resumed at 10am this morning – Thursday, July 17, 2025.
A spokesperson for NSW Police said, “Crews are navigating steep terrain impacted by snow and foggy conditions as the search.”
PHOTO: The multi-agency search has been operating for three days.
The AMSA Challenger rescue jet and two helicopters, from Victoria and ACT are conducting an overhead search. The search by emergency services continues.
UPDATE: Thursday, July 17, 2025 – 6:53PM
Missing plane located
A plane reported missing on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast has been located.
About 4.00pm today (Thursday July 17, 2025), a rescue helicopter located what is believed to be the crashed plane near the planes last known GPS location.
NSW Police Force now have carriage of this matter with investigations to continue tomorrow (Friday July 18, 2025).
PHOTO: The body of a man believed to be that of the missing pilot has been found CREDIT: NSW Police
UPDATE: Friday, July 18, 2025 4:50PM
Body found in Snowy Mountains plane wreckage
The body of a man has been located in wreckage in the Snowy Mountains, after a multi-day search for a plane that went missing earlier this week.
About 4.00pm yesterday (Thursday July 17, 2025), a rescue helicopter located the crashed plane near Khancoban.
Just before 3.00pm today, police located the body of a man near the crash site.
While he is yet to be formally identified, police believe the body is that of the missing pilot.
Police remain at the crash site and it is expected the body will be removed from the site later this afternoon.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
As a former Air Attack Supervisor, I thought that all aircraft carried ELTS which are impact activated.