SVG Authorities Break Silence on Missing Aircraft as Search Effort Continues 

By Admin. Updated 12:41 p.m., Monday, June 15, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Authorities in St Vincent and the Grenadines have issued their first official statement on the disappearance of a light aircraft that departed Argyle International Airport on Friday, June 12, confirming that the aircraft lost radio contact shortly after leaving the country’s controlled airspace.

Until Monday’s statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development, information surrounding the incident had largely come from authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, where search and rescue efforts have been centred.

In a press release, the Civil Aviation Department confirmed that the Dominican Republic-registered Beechcraft Baron B58T, registration HI1145, departed Argyle International Airport at 11:52 a.m. on June 12 bound for A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

The aircraft, carrying two people on board, had filed an estimated flight time of one hour and five minutes.

According to the Ministry, the aircraft maintained normal radio communication with Air Traffic Control at Argyle after take-off.

Communications were subsequently transferred when the aircraft reached a position approximately 40 nautical miles south of Argyle International Airport, near the southern boundary of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ controlled airspace.

The Ministry said radio contact with the aircraft was lost following the transfer of communications and the aircraft subsequently failed to arrive at its intended destination.

The loss of contact prompted aviation authorities to issue an alert and initiate a distress phase, triggering search and rescue operations.

The statement marks the first official confirmation by Vincentian authorities of the aircraft’s departure from Argyle International Airport and provides the clearest timeline to date of its last known communications.

Search and rescue operations remain ongoing.

The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe and secure operation of flights within the country’s airspace and said further updates would be provided as information becomes available.

Authorities have not released the identities of the two occupants, nor have they disclosed any information regarding the possible cause of the aircraft’s disappearance.

Investigations and search efforts continue.

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