Steve Fossett reported missing

A plane carrying world aviation record holder Steve Fossett has reportedly gone missing.Mr Fossett, 63, was last seen taking off from the Hilton Ranch south of Smith Valley, Nevada, on Monday night in a single engine Citabria Super Decathlon heading south.Major Cynthia Ryan, the civil air patrol spokeswoman for the Mission public information office, said three crews are in the air looking for Mr Fossett's blue and white aircraft and more are on the way.She added: "We will be launching more shortly."US federal aviation administration spokesman Ian Gregor, said: "The Civil Air Patrol is looking for him. One problem is he doesn't appear to have filed a flight plan."They are working on some leads, but they don't know where he is right now."The search area covers hundreds of square miles of rugged terrain.The Civil Air Patrol has called area airports looking for the US pilot who is good friends with Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson.A spokesman for Sir Richard added that Mr Fossett was flying solo with four full tanks of gas on the plane.It is believed he was searching for empty and dry lake beds which may be suitable for a forthcoming land speed record attempt in a car.That attempt is due to take place next year.Last year, Mr Fossett smashed the record for flying further than anyone in history.He flew 26,389.3 miles in the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and the record-breaking journey lasted 76 hours and 45 minutes, beating the former record of 25,361 miles set by the Breitling Orbiter balloon in 1999.In 2002 he was the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | September 4, 2007

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