Coastguard confirms debris found belonged to missing plane

The Coastgaurd said police are providing support to the families of the two people who were in the aircraft, and who have not yet been publicly named.

A spokesperson for the UK Coastguard has just said: “UK Coastguard can confirm that debris has been found in the search for the missing microlight aircraft.

“A yacht, which had responded to the Mayday relay broadcast and joined the search efforts, located the debris north of Glenarm, Northern Ireland.

“It has been confirmed as belonging to the microlight aircraft that went missing yesterday.”

Weather conditions had been affecting the search for a missing microlight aircraft and the two people onboard.

The North West Mountain Rescue Team and Irish Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter were earlier today drafted in to join in the search.

The aircraft was one of two to depart from City of Derry Airport bound for Scotland yesterday, but while the other microlight landed safely, the second failed to arrive.

At around 8.30pm last night Distress and Diversion based at Swanwick notified the UK Coastguard that a small microlight aircraft with two persons on board had been reported overdue.