Air search after reports of plane crashing near Sark

Saturday 15 August 2020

An air search was carried out yesterday evening after reports of a plane trailing smoke before crashing off the Sark coast.

Channel Islands Air Search crew were first alerted to the possible crash by a member of the public around 17:20, though no mayday call had been received from a plane.

An air search was initially carried out to the East of Sark shortly after 18:05, but nothing was found.

Another search began north of Herm around 19:30, but stopped around 20:00.

The CIAS team explained in a statement:

"At 17:21 on Saturday 15 August 2020, crew were alerted by Guernsey Coastguard to a suspected aircraft ditching at sea.

"Although no mayday call had been received, a person on Shell Beach in Herm has reported setting an aircraft trailing smoke and descending rapidly.

"Air Search was initially tasked to search an area to the East of Sark.

"Departing at 18:05, Air Search 1 arrived in the search area at 18:15 and commenced a stepladder search.

"Several small floating items were discounted, including marker buoys, sea birds and bits of wood.

"At 19:35 Guernsey Coastguard provided new coordinates north of Herm and requested an orbital search of that area. Air Search 1 arrived in the revised area at 19:38 and continued the search, before being stood down at 2000 by Guernsey Coastguard.

"Air Search 1 returned to Guernsey landing at 20:13."

A spokesman for Guernsey Coastguard said the RNLI Lifeboat had also been deployed.

"The St Peter Port Lifeboat arrived on scene at 17:55 with Airsearch 1 arriving at 18:17 at which time an extensive search was conducted in the near perfect conditions of smooth seas and visibility in excess of 10 nautical miles."

Pictured: RNLI Lifeboat volunteers conducted an extensive search but found nothing. (Dylan Ray)

Enquiries were made with Air Traffic Control authorities in Guernsey, Jersey, France and the United Kingdom, all of which investigated and found no overdue aircraft or any acting erratically on recorded radar displays.

"No distress calls or beacon alerts were received at any time during the incident," said a spokesperson. "At 20:00 with no sightings of any objects or fuel slicks on the water, and no further information from air traffic sources the decision was taken to cease the search.

"Airsearch 1 was back on station at 20:15 with the St Peter Port Lifeboat being back on station at 20:52."

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