Hunt for missing pilot abandoned after plane crashes into Channel.

The aircraft, which was carrying one person from Hampshire to Le Touquet, came down at around 2.30pm yesterday 15 miles off the coast of Dungeness.

An air-and-sea search operation by Kent and French crews was launched yesterday afternoon, but was stood down at dark.

It was announced this morning the search will not continue.

A Dover Coastguard spokesman said: “Having taken the advice of the RAF as well as the French rescue authorities, we have decided that we won’t be resuming the search.”

The search was launched yesterday involving both English and French teams, including a French helicopter and the Dungeness RNLI lifeboat.

The alarm was raised after the single-engine light aircraft failed to arrive at Le Touquet airport after leaving Blackbushe in Hampshire.

Lifeboats from Dungeness and Calais were also involved in the operation.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokesman said: “The AAIB have deployed a team to collect evidence and begin an initial investigation.

“The position of the aircraft will determine if the full investigation will be led by the AAIB or the French authorities.”