Aircraft Crashes Into Sea Off Winchelsea Beach
Just after 5pm on Saturday, police were alerted after a light aircraft plunged into the sea about half a mile off Winchelsea Beach. Despite an urgent search by coastguard helicopters and RNLI boats, no sign of the pilot has been found.
Local Lydd Aero Club Plane Goes Down
The downed plane is a Cherokee aircraft from a local Aero Club at Lydd Airport, Kent. The sole occupant, a 44-year-old man from Kent, was flying the aircraft alone when it went into the water.
Wreckage Recovered, Investigation Underway
Coastguard teams have recovered some wreckage believed to be from the aircraft. This debris has been taken to a secure site for examination by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), who are now leading the probe. They continue close coordination with the Coastguard as the search and investigation move forward.
