Friday afternoon, a plane carrying several Italian tourists including Vittorio Missoni and his wife Maurizia Castiglioni, disappeared shortly after takeoff from the small island of Los Roques. The plane was bound for the Venezuelan international airport, in what should have been a half hour flight but the plane never made it to its destination. Interior minister Nestor Reverol announced Friday that the small plane took off from the resort island at 11:30 in the morning carrying 4 passengers and 2 crew members. Its last known position was 10 miles south of Los Roques where Missoni had been vacationing.
Vittorio Missoni, 58, is the head of the family owned Italian design label Missoni. Famous for their intricately patterned materials the company enjoyed resurgence in popularity after collaborating with Target in 2011 on a line of clothing, accessories and housewares. A spokesperson for the Missoni family said that the family had been informed of the disappearance but held on to hope as the search continues.