Plane Missing After Contact With Aircraft Is Lost Sparking Major Search

The UK Coastguard fears a missing aircraft may have ditched into the sea after disappearing from radar screens this morning. A major search is under way off the coast of Blackpool after contact was lost with the pilot who was flying solo from the Isle of Man to Blackpool Airport.

The small plane disappeared off radar on its approach to the airport shortly after 9am.

Matthew Mace, duty controller at the UK Coastguard said: "There are reports of low visibility in the area so there is a strong likelihood that this aircraft may have ditched into the sea after contact was lost and it disappeared from the radar. We currently have a helicopter and several Coastguard teams out searching for this aircraft."

A spokesperson for a Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed he incident saying: ‘’We got a call at 9:17am from police, the information given was that (there was) a light aircraft on route from the Isle of Man to Blackpool Airport with one person on board, obviously the pilot. We are also searching for it’’.