No sign of missing biplane

Daroish Kraidy.

A search of five areas around Coromandel today have failed to turn up any sign of a missing biplane carrying an Auckland man.

Daroish Kraidy's home-built aerobatic plane disappeared from radar detection shortly after take-off on Tuesday morning.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand mission co-ordinator Dave Wilson said this afternoon that no sign of the aircraft had been found.

The Auckland police launch Deodar III and the police national dive squad searched Wainuiototo Bay today after an oil slick was spotted yesterday morning.

An Air Force Iroquois helicopter began a search of the eastern side of Coromandel Peninsula and that was likely to continue tomorrow.

As well, the Westpac Trust Waikato rescue helicopter from Hamilton searched an area of bush near the bottom of the Firth of Thames and Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi.

The Philips Trust fixed-wing aircraft, also from Hamilton, searched the northern end of the Firth of Thames and would do a shoreline search on the western side of Coromandel Peninsula on its way back to base.

Mr Wilson said the information from the public had been valuable in establishing the search areas.

"Because we do not have any information about the planned route of the aircraft, and it disappeared from radar within minutes of taking off from Ardmore, it's been important to get credible sightings and we'd like to thank the public for their response. These sightings have formed the basis of our search areas,'' he said.

Mr Kraidy's brother Deon said last night that he was still holding out hope for Daroish.

Speaking from his home in Hoedspruit, South Africa, Mr Kraidy said there was a chance his brother had crash-landed somewhere and was still alive.

The family in South Africa were mostly holding together "all right'' as they awaited further news, although their father "is not taking it very well''.

Daroish Kraidy has a 21-year-old son in New Zealand and a 24-year-old daughter in Australia. He divorced his wife "not too long ago'', his brother said.

As well as Deon, his sister and father also live in his native South Africa.

Deon - who is also an aviator and runs a flight training school - said Daroish was a "very experienced'' pilot who used to be a jet pilot in the South African air force.

He had been a pilot for about 35 years, Deon said, and had lived in New Zealand for the past "13 or 14'' years. He had represented New Zealand at the Precision Flying World Championships.

No distress beacon had been activated from Mr Kraidy's plane.

RCCNZ said it was grateful for information provided by the public and asked anyone who had seen the plane on Tuesday or had any information that might assist the search to contact RCCNZ on 0508 472 269 or the police.