Two people were rescued from the wing of a microlight after it crashed into Cardigan Bay off the Welsh coast on Friday evening. The occupants were found sitting on the aircraft's wing before being brought ashore by RNLI lifeboat crews and a coastguard rescue helicopter.
Rescue Operation Near Cardigan Island
The incident occurred near Cardigan Island, an uninhabited wildlife reserve off the coast of Gwbert in south Wales, close to the Cliff Hotel and Spa. The microlight, a lightweight fixed-wing or weight-shift aircraft, plunged into the water after developing difficulties at around 6pm on Friday, coastguards confirmed.
Rescue crews located the two occupants clinging to the aircraft's wing. Both individuals were recovered by lifeboat and handed over to Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics at the scene, alongside RNLI crews from New Quay and Cardigan, as well as a coastguard rescue helicopter, according to WalesOnline.
Condition of Survivors
Coastguard officials have not disclosed details regarding any injuries sustained by the two people on board, though it is understood they escaped without serious harm, reports the Daily Star.
A coastguard spokesperson said: "We received a report at around 6pm on Friday of a microlight, with two people on board, that had ditched into the water approximately nine nautical miles north west of Cardigan Island, Pembrokeshire. A coastguard rescue helicopter, RNLI lifeboats from Fishguard, New Quay, and Cardigan, and the ambulance service were all sent. The two people were located sitting on the wing of the microlight. They were recovered by a lifeboat and taken to shore where they were passed into the care of the ambulance service."
Separate Fatal Crash in Devon
This incident follows a fatal light aircraft crash near Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon on Friday morning. Emergency services, including police, firefighters, paramedics, and an air ambulance, responded to the crash reported at approximately 10am. The pilot, believed to be a woman in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Devon and Cornwall Police. Officers confirmed they would work alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances.
