Body found in search for missing aircraft

A body has been found along with the wreckage of a light aircraft belonging to a couple from Cowbridge.

A search will continue today for a second person known to have been on board the aircraft which was last spotted on radar at around 13.30 BST on Sunday.

The couple in a single-engine Piper Cherokee, took off from a small aerodrome near Dublin, Ireland at 12.15 BST, bound for Cardiff, Wales. The aircraft with two people on board, both of whom are understood to be from Wales, had enough fuel for four hours and was due to land at Cardiff just before 15.00 BST.

Coastguard said there had been an extensive search conducted overnight by air and sea in an effort to locate the aircraft. Both the RAF and Dublin Coastguard were involved in the coordination of the initial search, which involved an RAF Nimrod, search and rescue helicopters and an Irish patrol craft. The coordination of the search was taken over by Milford Haven Coastguard on Sunday evening.

The Fishguard and St David's RNLI lifeboats, in a search of an area approximately 10 miles off Strumble Head on the Welsh coast, located wreckage. A body has been found at the scene, as well as a pilot's licence, but Coastguard have not yet confirmed the identity of the person.

The area they intended to fly through on Sunday had poor weather with heavy rain, thunder and fog. There was also the prospect of severe turbulence.

Julie Wood, Watch Manager, Milford Haven Coastguard said: "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. This has been a long and difficult search in difficult weather conditions. Working as a team with the RNLI, RAF and the Irish Coastguard has helped us locate this aircraft."

An air accident investigation will be held into the cause of the accident.

(SP/KMcA)