As soon as the aircraft, with six people on board, was reported missing a search involving British, Italian, Libyan, Tunisian and US as well as Maltese aircraft and ships, co-ordinated by the Maltese authorities, got under way and continued until 8 December. Some private aircraft continued to search for a further few days. No trace of the missing aircraft or passengers was found. I am not aware of any evidence that the efforts of the Tunisian and Maltese authorities, for which we are grateful, were inadequate in any way.
A Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the aircraft has been established by the Maltese Ministry of Transport. Its work cannot proceed until legal objections by the owners of the missing aircraft concerning the commission's composition have been dealt with by the Maltese courts; this is likely to take another month.
My Department is in regular contact with the missing Irish citizen's family and, together with the Embassy in Rome and the Consulate in Valvetta, is closely monitoring developments and assisting the family in any way it can. The family has a legal representative in Malta.
