SEARCH UNDERWAY AFTER LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASH IN ENGLISH CHANNEL

A search is underway in the English Channel this afternoon after reports that an aircraft had failed to arrive at its destination airport in France.

Dover Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was first contacted at 2.30pm with reports a single engine aircraft with one person on board had failed to arrive at Le Touquet airport having left Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire earlier on today.
Dover MRCC is coordinating the search with the help of the French Coastguard. A French search and rescue helicopter located wreckage approximately 15 miles off Dungeness.
The search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham has now joined in with the search, along with the Dungeness RNLI lifeboat, and three French vessels.

UPDATE: 9.30pm Sunday 21st July

Search suspended due to fading light. Further discussions will be held in the morning as to the next course of action.

UPDATE: 11:45am Monday 22nd July

Although a large amount of wreckage was found, no casualty was located during an extensive search last night. A joint decision has been made this morning not to recommence the search.

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