Major search for missing aircraft that sent panicked mayday call before vanishing near UK beach as helicopter deployed
A FRANTIC search has been launched to find an aircraft after crew activated a mayday beacon before vanishing.
The distress signal went off close to Hemsby Gap shoreline, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, this afternoon.
Humber Coastguard confirmed the alarm was raised at around 12.34pm.
The aircraft had been spotted above the sea on FlightRadar24, but has since disappeared and is feared to have crashed.
There are four Hembsy Lifeboats at the scene at present, with officials saying the search could continue for " a while".
A helicopter is also involved in the frantic rescue operation.
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Norfolk Constabulary and ambulance services arrived at the scene at just before 4pm.
It is not known how many people were on the aircraft, nor any details of the plane itself.
A spokeswoman for Hemsby Lifeboat helm, said: 'We are still doing a search of the area, a boxed search.
'The last known location is two to three nautical miles offfshore at Hemsby Gap.'
Most read in The Sun
It is still unknown if there have been any fatalities or injuries.
1
An aircraft is feared to have crashed off the coast of Hemsby Gap
Credit: Alamy
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