Crash off Kent

[Readability5]

Sky and BBC are running a story that a twin engined aircraft has crashed into the sea off Dungeness. No further details at the moment.

[Big Hilly]

This on Sky news: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1221517,00.html

[jetflite]

my appologies. . there are reports of twin-engine plane, facts un-known. . just that a pilot flying over the ocean spotted a aircraft on the surface in disress, he went to make a second pass and there was no sign. .

Hope there is a positive outcome.

[Nige321]

This is off Sky News©, but strangely the BBC thread has gone...:cool:

Plane Crashes Into Sea
Updated: 11:54, Friday May 12, 2006

A twin-engined plane has reportedly crashed into the sea off Dungeness in Kent.

A Sea King helicopter and lifeboats have been scrambled in a rescue operation.

A pilot flying over the spot earlier today saw a stricken aircraft on the surface of the water.

When he returned for a second pass he could see no sign of it, or of any life rafts or debris.

However, he put out a "mayday" call and a rescue operation is now underway.

Michael Mulford, of RAF Search and Rescue, told Sky News: "There's always the possibility of an innocent explanation.

"At the moment it's very much a question of get a helicopter there, get some lifeboats there and see if there's anything there."

He added there were no reports of any aircraft missing, but traffic was now being monitored.

Ships in the area are also being asked to look out for any sign of an aircraft.


And Jetflite, I hope no body you know is on it...:yuk:

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

wartime ghosts again....:uhoh:

[Big Hilly]

Thankfully, it appears it was a false alarm:
A report of a light aircraft crashing in the sea near Kent was a false alarm, says the coastguard.

A search and rescue operation was launched after a pilot en route to France reported seeing a stricken plane on the surface of the water near Dungeness.

An RAF helicopter, two lifeboats, two range safety vessels and eight merchant ships went to the scene after the alarm was raised at around 11am.

The operation was called off at 12.50pm after they found no signs of a crash.

Dover Coastguard watch manager Gordon Wise said the incident had been "a false alarm with good intent".

He said: "We think that the pilot saw the aircraft at a low altitude and when he lost sight of him he thought he had ditched."

The pilot who reported the incident had returned for a second pass but could see no sign of a plane, or of any life rafts or debris.

However, he put out the "mayday" call which led to the rescue operation getting underway.