Search underway for missing microlight aircraft

The aircraft went missing after leaving City of Derry Airport on Thursday morning.

The small aircraft left City of Derry airport headed for Stranraer in Scotland carrying two people yesterday.

A major land, sea and air search was launched last night after the aircraft failed to reach its destination in Scotland.

The debris was found 1km off the coast of Northern Ireland with two people still missing as rescuers continue the search.

A fixed wing aircraft and the Irish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter are also expected to be part of the search which is being carried out over inland and coastal areas, along with other emergency services and agencies.

The Northern Irish North West Mountain Rescue Team also joined the search. We may send further resources as the search widens’.

Two people are understood to have been onboard when the plane disappeared, somewhere in a stretch of water known as the North Channel.

Larne RNLI has launched its all-weather lifeboat and D class lifeboat, Red Bay RNLI has launched its Atlantic 85 and all-weather lifeboat and the all-weather lifeboat is in use from Portpatrick. The teams and rescue units were waiting for the visibility to improve before they resumed the search on Friday.