An attempt to find the missing CEO of Italian fashion house Missoni using social media has been launched by the fashion heir's son.

Vittorio Missoni and his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni, have been missing since Friday morning. The couple were returning home from a Christmas holiday when the small plane they were travelling in disappeared off the coast of Venezuela. Two other passengers and the aircraft's two pilots are also missing.

The 58-year-old businessman's son, Ottavio Junior, has launched a Twitter campaign to raise awareness of the rescue mission using the hashtag #findvittoriomissoni.

Vittorio Missoni - who is the eldest son of the brand's founders, Ottavio and Rosita Missoni - was flying over the coastal islands of Los Roques when the plane disappeared from radar and radio contact half an hour after take-off. Venezuelan emergency workers have been in search of the plane along with hundreds of workers, several aircraft and boats ever since.

In a statement released on Monday 7 January, Vittorio's sister Angela Missoni said:

'We are all moved by the affection and help that we have had from the whole world and thankful to the Authorities for their tireless search and rescue efforts.
At this time, we have no further specifics regarding the search except to say we are confident they will continue at the same pace and the search with explore all possibilities. Our deepest thanks go to the multitude of supporters that have reached out to us from all over the world.
We are full of hope and trust the great work the Authorities have been doing so far. We will not give up.’