2 die in plane crash near Scottish coast

An investigation is underway after two men died in a light aircraft crash two miles off the coast of Skipness, between the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran, around 3:45pm on Thursday.

The alarm was raised after the aircraft, which took off from Oban Airport, North Connel, around 11:30am, failed to arrive at Carlisle Airport at 1pm.

An extensive search of the water was co-ordinated by the UK Coastguard, and involved Police Scotland, HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick, along with Tarbert and Campbeltown Coastguard Rescue Teams and Arran Lifeboat.

The bodies of two men and some wreckage from the aircraft were recovered in the sea near to Skipness, Argyll.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish the identities of the two men on board and post mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.

Police Scotland is investigating to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact DI Douglas Wilson at L Division CID via 101 and quote incident number 2167.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is conducting an independent safety investigation.