Search resumes for missing adventurer

A search for missing world aviation record holder Steve Fossett resumed today over hundreds of square miles of rugged terrain.

Fossett, 63, was last seen taking off from the Hilton Ranch south of Smith Valley, Nevada, on Monday night in a single-engined aircraft.

Richard Branson, who funded the adventurer’s record-breaking attempts, has backed him to return safe and well.

Mr Fossett was searching for empty and dry lake beds which may be suitable for a forthcoming world land speed record attempt in a car.

The American millionaire businessman who holds the record for flying further than anyone in history, was the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon, and the first person to fly a plane solo around the world without refuelling.

Teams were searching hundreds of square miles of rugged terrain in western Nevada for the adventurer.

Mr Fossett took off at around 9am local time on Monday from a private airstrip on a ranch owned by hotel tycoon Barron Hilton south of Smith Valley in western Nevada.

When he did not return by noon as scheduled, a friend reported him missing.

Virgin tycoon Sir Richard said Mr Fossett was a “tough old boot” who has had “far tougher challenges to overcome in the past”.

He said he was hopeful his friend would be found alive.

Yesterday, the search was hampered by high winds and the fact that Mr Fossett did not file a flight plan, which he was not required to do.

The aircraft, with the tail number N-240R, is blue and white with orange stripes and blue sunburst designs on top of the wings.

It is understood he would have had four to five hours of fuel in the plane and was not wearing a parachute.

It is also understood Mr Fossett has a special watch which, if he was able to, he could use to give out a signal to show his location, but he has not done so.

The plane was also fitted with an ELT location device which could be operated manually.