Search for crashed aircraft pilot

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7257334.stm

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A light aircraft flying from Reykjavik in Iceland to Wick in the north of Scotland has crashed into the sea.

The Royal Air Force said the Piper Cherokee came down in a storm 100 miles south of Iceland.

A Nimrod search and rescue aircraft from RAF Kinloss in Moray and Icelandic rescue services were sent to search for the pilot, believed to be American.

A boat from the Icelandic coastguard is continuing the search, but the Nimrod was stood down at about 2100 GMT.

The RAF said weather conditions were severe with heavy thunderstorms and a 20ft swell.

The pilot told Iceland Air Traffic he was at 9,000ft at 1122 GMT, but 17 minutes later he sent a Mayday message reporting severe icing to the aircraft and that he was ditching.

We always try to remain optimistic on these occasions but this is very much a race against time to find the pilot Michael MulfordRAF spokesman

He was known to be in a survival suit but it was not clear whether he also had a dinghy.

RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said: "We always try to remain optimistic on these occasions, but this is very much a race against time to find the pilot.

"You have to be realistic as well as hopeful."

It is now thought that the pilot may have been delivering the plane to Germany, but planned to stop in Wick to refuel, he added.

Iceland Coastguard scrambled a Fokker Friendship fixed-wing aircraft and a Super Puma helicopter, when the accident was detected by staff at the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Kinloss.

A distress beacon from the scene confirmed the aircraft was in the water.

However, it was understood the beacon had since stopped suggesting the aircraft had sunk.