Fate of missing aricraft still unknown

The search for a light aircraft which went missing during a flight from the Isle of Man to Blackpool has been scaled down for the evening (3 Dec).

Air traffic control in Blackpool lost contact with the pilot of a single-engine plane when the aircraft disappeared from radar shortly after 9am.

The Blackpool and Lytham Coastguard, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the RNLI continued operations around the coast as weather conditions worsened early evening.

Earlier in the day, seven lifeboats and three helicopters were involved in the search, extended to three miles off shore.

After dark, larger vessels covered the area while smaller inshore vessels returned to their stations.

Director of Ports Ann Reynolds has confirmed the aircraft was based at Ronaldsway but was not Manx-registered.