WELLINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A New Zealand air force P-3K2 Orion aircraft left for Tonga Monday to search for a Tongan fisherman who has been missing for two days.
The fisherman called his family via cellphone late on Saturday saying the engine of his 4.8-meter boat had failed and he had lost contact since then, Air Commodore Darryn Webb said in a statement.
The boat was believed to be between the main Tongan island of Tongatapu and the island of Eua.
"The crew will try to find the vessel and establish communications with the skipper so we can ascertain the problem and provide assistance as required," Webb said.
"Tongan authorities have launched a search but have had no success to date."
The search area was estimated at about 16,600 square km.
