“He fell into British waters. for en unknown reason”said a spokesperson for French emergency services.
“The British Coast Guard launched the operation with the support of French aircraft and boats, including the tugboat Abeille-Languedoc (Languedoc Bee), which was chartered by the French Navy,” he said. added.
representative for maritime prefecture in France said that large-scale searches were suspended on Saturday night and will resume in first light on Sunday.
Flight records show something that Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II left Wellesbourne at 7:56 am on Saturday and it seemed to go off radar over Channel at 9.02.
A French Navy Falcon 50 aircraft and a Dauphin helicopter participated in the search. ships in channel was also forewarned about the disappearance, but by the night there was no sign of aircraft or any debris.
“The search continued all day but could not find any wreckage or debris from the aircraft,” a prefectural spokesman said.
Those who travel in small aircraft such as the Piper PA-28 are usually equipped with life jackets and life raft.
The plane was built in 1976 and has four seats. It was in production since 1960 and various models were involved in number of high-profile accidents in that time.
In August 1972, Prince William of Gloucester, the Queen’s cousin, was killed along with with his co-pilot in Piper Cherokee Arrow after crash on take-off from Halfpenny Green, near Wolverhampton, during air race.
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