Update: The Search for Vittorio Missoni Continues; Missoni Family Remains Hopeful

Photo: Margherita Missoni, Angela Missoni, and Vittorio Missoni; Getty Images

Concerns continue to mount as the plane carrying head of the family business, Vittorio Missoni, along with his wife Maurizia Castiglioni, is still missing since its departure from the Los Roques islands on Friday. According to ABC, the Venezuelan government is increasing its search forces, which includes the National Civil Aviation Institute, the Coast Guard, and the Navy. "All [of] the organizations involved will not diminish the intensity of the search and also will not discard any hypothesis that could lead us [to] the location of the plane," said Venezuela's air transportation ministry in a statement late Sunday, as reported by CNN. The additions will amplify the large amount of manpower already active, which according to WWD, includes over 385 people, a small plane, and two helicopters.

As the search heightens, rumors as to what happened are circulating. One theory is that there was a kidnapping, which has been providing the Missoni family with some hope. “It’s better to be kidnapped than at the bottom of the sea,” Angela Missoni, Vittorio’s sister, told reporters on Monday via The Daily Beast. "We hope all four are alive and well. We also hope that the searches go in all directions."


The site also reports that the son of Guido Foresti, who was on the plane with Vittorio, received a mysterious text message in Italian which read, "Call now, we are reachable." Unfortunately, the Italian telephone company Telecom Italia Mobile could only confirm that message was sent, and not its time.


Business Insider offers an alternative circumstance theorized by a pilot who witnessed the plane take off. "I saw them right in front of me as they were swallowed up by a huge cumulus cloud," said pilot Enrique Rada in an interview with La Stampa, according to Business Insider. "It was a lightning bolt. It must have been a lightning bolt."


Through it all, the Missoni family has stayed optimistic and used Twitter as a vehicle for spreading the word in hopes of obtaining valuable information in return. The hashtag #FindVittorioMissoni has populated the Twitter sphere thanks in large part to Vittorio's niece Margherita Missoni.


The Missoni head's eldest son Ottavio Missoni Jr., tweeted an Instagram photo with a special message which stated, "Anyone in Venezuela with any information is invited to contact the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by calling the Crisis Unit or emailing the Ministry unita.crisi@esteri.it. Please help us bring Vittorio, Maurizia and their friends home safely. #findvittoriomissoni."


BoyVig wishes the rescue teams and the Missoni family the best of luck during this stressful time, and we'll continue to update this story as more news emerges.