Hunt for plane lost over channel

Rescue services are hunting for a plane which has gone missing over the English Channel en route from southern England to Jersey, with one person on board.

A major search and rescue operation for the light aircraft was launched at about 1800 GMT on Sunday.

The alarm was raised after air traffic controllers in Jersey lost contact with the pilot.

The plane's last known position was 22km (14 miles) from Cherbourg in France.

A helicopter from RAF Chivenor in Devon joined rescue services from Guernsey, French maritime police and the French navy in the search for the 8m (26ft) long Cirrus SR22 monoplane which took off from Biggin Hill airfield in Bromley, south London, on Sunday afternoon.

Four passenger ferries were also helping in the operation, which was suspended overnight but resumed at first light this morning.

Yann Bizien, French maritime police spokesman, said: "We are unable at this time to offer any information as to the causes or the circumstances of this accident.

"Neither wreckage nor the pilot have been found."

He said weather conditions in the Channel were "not extreme".

He added that in January a plane with three people aboard crashed into the sea off Cherbourg, with one of the vicitms being pulled out of the water alive.