Friends of missing couple still hoping for answers to plane mystery

The disappearance of a couple and their small plane over a year ago continues to baffle friends and authorities, with no clues emerging about their fate. Gregory Vaughan, 72, Kim Worner, 66, and their dog Molly were on board a bright green, single-engine Bristell S-LSA when it departed George Town airport on August 2, 2025.

Their intended route was a flight across Bass Strait, with a planned fuel stop in regional Victoria before continuing to Hillston in New South Wales. However, they never arrived at their destination and have not been seen or heard from since their takeoff.

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The typical process that Greg would follow with radio calls … that wasn't made

Friends became concerned when the expected radio check-ins were missed. Stephen Ross, treasurer of the Georgetown Airport Association, recalled that a friend of Vaughan's, monitoring the radio, noticed the lack of communication early on. This prompted an immediate alarm to be raised with authorities, and friends of Vaughan's also took to the sky in their own aircraft to search for the couple.

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People look back at the last 12 months and just wondered what exactly happened, really

Despite an extensive search effort by authorities and subsequent aerial searches by friends along the coast and ocean, no trace of the aircraft has been discovered. Police confirmed that Mr. Vaughan did not make any distress calls, and it is believed there were no active tracking devices on board. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority also stated that the pilot made no contact with authorities during the flight.

Friends recently held an informal gathering to remember Kim and Greg, sharing stories over pizza and beer. Vaughan had a long career in aviation, working as a tradesman and later as an engineering and safety expert for an engine manufacturing company. He and Worner had moved to Tasmania after his retirement. Ross noted that while the initial raw emotion has subsided over the past year, the uncertainty surrounding their disappearance continues to weigh on those who knew them.

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I certainly applaud them for the resources and their diligence at doing the searching.