Two missing as small plane plunges into the Channel

TWO people were missing last night after a small plane crashed in the Channel as it was heading to France.

A joint British and French rescue operation was launched to find the pilot and passenger – both believed to be British – onboard the Piper PA-28.

It took off from Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, yesterday morning and was heading to Le Touquet on the northern French coast.

The plane was in a group of aircraft making the trip.

‘It crashed into British waters for an unknown reason,’ said a spokesman for the French emergency services. ‘British coastguard launched an operation supported by French aircraft and boats.’

By 7.30pm there was no sign of the plane or its occupants, who have not been identified publicly. The search will resume this morning.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the plane’s last known position was 25 miles off Dungeness, Kent.