A small plane crash-landed in the sea just off the coast of the UK, prompting a rescue mission that successfully saved two people who were found sitting on the aircraft's wing. The incident occurred on Friday evening near Cardigan Island, an uninhabited nature reserve off the coast of Gwbert in south Wales.
Emergency Response Launched
The small aircraft plunged into Cardigan Bay at around 6pm on June 26 after experiencing difficulty, according to coastguards. Several emergency crews were dispatched, including a coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboats from Fishguard, New Quay, and Cardigan, and paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Rescuers discovered the two people onboard the aircraft at sea, sitting on the wing of the microlight. They were recovered by a lifeboat and taken to shore before being transported to hospital. No details have been confirmed about their conditions, Wales Online reports.
Coastguard Statement
A spokesman for the coastguard said: "We received a report at around 6pm on Friday of a microlight, with two people on board, that had ditched into the water approximately nine nautical miles north west of Cardigan Island, Pembrokeshire. A coastguard rescue helicopter, RNLI lifeboats from Fishguard, New Quay, and Cardigan, and the ambulance service were all sent. The two people were located sitting on the wing of the microlight. They were recovered by a lifeboat and taken to shore where they were passed into the care of the ambulance service."
Earlier Crash in Devon
This incident followed a light aircraft crash near Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon a few hours prior. The pilot, the only person on board the plane, sadly died, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed on June 26.
