UK Coastguard responds to report of low flying aircraft

At around 4.30pm today (Monday 22 August 2016) UK Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting an aircraft flying very low over the sea near Melvich Bay, north Scotland.

Scrabster and Melvich Coastguard Rescue Teams, Thurso RNLI lifeboat along with the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Inverness were sent to the scene.  Police Scotland were also informed of the incident.

The UK Coastguard made a relay broadcast and four vessels responded and reported that they had not seen anything in the area.

 After an extensive and thorough search of the area with nothing found, the Coastguard Rescue Teams and the helicopter have been stood down unless further information comes to light.  At this stage the incident is being treated as a false alarm with good intent possibly attributed to a low flying military aircraft known to be in the area at the time.

 

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