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Plane search teams find wreckage Wreckage is that of missing plane
(about 1 hour later)
Rescue teams searching for a British light aircraft which went missing over mountains in the Irish republic say a plane has been found. Air accident investigators have confirmed that plane wreckage found on a mountainside in the Irish republic is that of a missing light aircraft.
A Piper PA-28 single engine plane took off from Gloucester on Saturday morning but failed to land, as expected, at Kilrush in County Kildare at noon. The Piper PA-28 single engine plane took off from Gloucester on Saturday morning but failed to land at Kilrush in County Kildare at noon.
Airport officials said the four people on board were from Gloucestershire. Airport officials said the four people on board were all from Gloucestershire.
Gardai, the Irish Coastguard and Irish Aviation Authority said wreckage had been found near Corriebrock mountain. Gardai, the Irish Coastguard and Irish Aviation Authority, said wreckage had been found near Corriebrock mountain.
The plane left Gloucestershire Airport at about 1000 BST on Saturday.The plane left Gloucestershire Airport at about 1000 BST on Saturday.
But the last radar sighting was at 1230 BST over the Wicklow mountains, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said.But the last radar sighting was at 1230 BST over the Wicklow mountains, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said.
Dublin air traffic control had monitored the flight before passing it over to Kilrush air traffic control a little over ten minutes before the last sighting.
But it was not until 1800 BST that a relative of the pilot raised concerns about the plane's whereabouts.
It is understood three of those on board were family members, while the fourth was a friend.
Mountain rescueMountain rescue
Gardai, the Coastguard, Defence Forces, and mountain rescue personnel from Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Northern Ireland began a major search of the rugged terrain at about 0630 GMT on Sunday.Gardai, the Coastguard, Defence Forces, and mountain rescue personnel from Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Northern Ireland began a major search of the rugged terrain at about 0630 GMT on Sunday.
Superintendent Michael Lernihan, co-ordinating the search, said weather conditions were mixed.Superintendent Michael Lernihan, co-ordinating the search, said weather conditions were mixed.
"It is very cold, windy," he said.
It is understood up to 40 mountain rescue personnel were involved in the search, along with about 15 gardai from the north Wicklow town of Bray.It is understood up to 40 mountain rescue personnel were involved in the search, along with about 15 gardai from the north Wicklow town of Bray.
The Garda Helicopter and Dublin-based Coastguard helicopter were also called in.The Garda Helicopter and Dublin-based Coastguard helicopter were also called in.
I checked the whole airfield to see if there was a plane on the ground Ian Valentine, Kilrush Airfield The discovery of the wreckage was made by mountain rescue personnel, who it is understood, were acting on information provided by a hill-walker.
The IAA said Dublin air traffic control had monitored the flight before passing it over to Kilrush air traffice control a little over ten minutes before the last sighting at on Saturday. Experienced pilot
But it was not until 1800 BST that a relative of the pilot raised concerns about the plane's whereabouts. A statement from Glen of Imaal mountain rescue group said: "A hasty search party from [the team] have this morning located the light aircraft missing since yesterday afternoon.
The operator of the privately operated Kilrush Airfield, Ian Valentine, said he had not been made aware the plane was due to land there. "The Glen team members are currently on scene with members of the gardai, the Coastguard and Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team."
He said he received a text message from the pilot - believed to be a 40-year-old man - earlier in the week but he would normally expect a phone call on the day of the flight. According to the operator of Kilrush airfield, Ian Valentine, the pilot had been using the strip for the last six or seven years to visit relatives in the near-by town of Newbridge.
Mr Valentine added: "I checked the whole airfield to see if there was a plane on the ground and there wasn't of course." He said he received a text message from the pilot - whom he described as experienced and in his mid-40s - earlier in the week but he would normally expect a phone call on the day of the flight.
He described the pilot as an experienced flyer who had travelled to the Irish Republic about twice a year for the past seven years. The Irish Republic's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) confirmed the wreckage was that of the missing aircraft.
Chief Inspector of Air Accidents Jurgen Whyte said: "We have two teams responding.
"One has already responded by air on an Air Corps helicopter from Baldonnel. They are on site at the moment. We have another team arriving by road with equipment."