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Two feared dead as aircraft wreckage found

The Coastguard in Belfast led the search operation
The Coastguard in Belfast led the search operation

Two people are feared dead after wreckage from a missing microlight plane was found off the coast of Co Antrim.

The Coastguard said debris from the aircraft had been found in the sea north of Glenarm.

The flight carrying two people took off from City of Derry Airport yesterday and had been tracking towards Stranraer in Scotland.

A major land, sea and air search was launched.

The operation continued until 3am this morning, when it was suspended due to fog but, it resumed when the fog cleared.

The Coastguard said a yacht had joined the search efforts located the wreckage.

Police are providing support to the families of the two missing people.

A fixed wing aircraft and the Irish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter were involved in the extensive search operation.

Coastguard teams conducted a shore search while five RNLI lifeboats from Larne and Red Bay in Northern Ireland and Portpatrick in Scotland spent the day scouring the North Channel.

James Instance, duty controller with UK Coastguard, said: "The weather has caused problems for the search operation. However, we have drawn up an extensive search and rescue plan which will be put into action today."