ATHENS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A search and rescue operation was launched on Wednesday in western Greece for a small two-seater aircraft which went missing, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

An eye witness saw the single-engine aircraft crashing in the sea area off Messolonghi town, about 200 km west of Athens, according to early information by authorities.

It is still unclear whether there was a second passenger on board besides the pilot.

The plane belongs to a local flying club. It took off from Messolonghi and was en route to nearby Patras city port, according to local media.