Cypriot Training Plane Disappears En Route to Beirut
A training plane carrying a Lebanese pilot and a Cypriot citizen disappeared from the radar on Wednesday while en route from Cyprus to Beirut, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
The agency identified the pilot of the “Cypriot single-engine Cessna” as George Obagi.
The plane was 26 miles away from Lebanese airspace when it disappeared from the radar and all contact was lost with its captain, according to NNA.
“Beirut's air traffic controllers communicated with the air traffic control tower in Cyprus and the plane was contacted by radio several times without any response from the crew,” the agency added.
It said Cypriot authorities were preparing a search and rescue mission and that air control at Beirut's airport asked the Lebanese land, marine and air forces to contribute to the operation.
“They were asked to be fully ready to help should the need arise and were tasked with searching for the plane and its crew,” NNA added.
Later on Wednesday, LBCI television said the captain "contacted the airport in Cyprus at 7:02 pm to report a technical problem before the plane disappeared from the radar two minutes later."
Y.R.
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