What happened
During a visual flight rules (VFR) mission, the pilot of the aircraft departed in formation, following closely behind another company-operated plane. Approximately five minutes into the flight, the pilot of the trailing aircraft contacted the lead pilot to report a technical issue involving a generator malfunction. The pilot indicated that they would continue the flight while monitoring the situation.
Following the departure, the lead aircraft proceeded to a different airport to disembark passengers. The lead pilot remained at that location, waiting for the second aircraft to arrive at the same destination. However, the aircraft never reached the intended airport or the secondary landing site.
In response to the disappearance, an extensive search operation was initiated. Authorities requested that all shipping vessels traveling along the projected flight path monitor their waters and report any sightings of the aircraft. Despite these efforts, no contact was established, and the search was eventually called off. The incident is believed to have resulted in fatalities and significant aircraft damage.
Findings
No official conclusion regarding the disappearance has been reached, though the pilot had explicitly reported a generator problem shortly before losing contact with the lead aircraft.