Authorities in St Vincent and the Grenadines have confirmed that an aircraft that went missing during a flight to Tobago on June 12 had two people on board.

In its first statement since the aircraft disappeared, the Civil Aviation Department said the Dominican Republic-registered twin-engine Beechcraft Baron B58T, with registration HI1145, departed Argyle International Airport at 11:52 am local time on bound for A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

The aircraft had a filed flight time of one hour and five minutes and maintained normal radio communication with Argyle Air Traffic Control after takeoff, authorities said.

Communication with the aircraft was transferred when it reached a position approximately 40 nautical miles south of Argyle International Airport, which marks the southern limit of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ controlled airspace.

However, following the transfer, radio contact with the aircraft was lost and the plane failed to arrive at its intended destination in Tobago. The loss of communication prompted aviation officials to initiate a distress phase and begin search and rescue operations.

Authorities have not released the identities of the two people on board or provided details on the aircraft’s last known location.

The Civil Aviation Department said search efforts are ongoing and that further updates will be issued as information becomes available.