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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Light plane missing in blizzard | Light plane missing in blizzard |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A search is under way in the Highlands for a light aircraft which has been reported missing in bad weather. | A search is under way in the Highlands for a light aircraft which has been reported missing in bad weather. |
| The alert was raised shortly before 1100 BST when the aircraft, with one person on board, lost contact with controllers over the Cairngorms. | |
| Two helicopters, from RAF Lossiemouth and HMS Gannet, have been sent to the area south east of Glenmore Forest. | Two helicopters, from RAF Lossiemouth and HMS Gannet, have been sent to the area south east of Glenmore Forest. |
| Weather conditions in the area are described as severe, with poor visibility and snow showers. | Weather conditions in the area are described as severe, with poor visibility and snow showers. |
| The aircraft is thought to have set off from Carlisle at about 0915 BST. | The aircraft is thought to have set off from Carlisle at about 0915 BST. |
| One has to remember what the weather can be like up there, it can be quite Arctic Michael MulfordRAF spokesman | One has to remember what the weather can be like up there, it can be quite Arctic Michael MulfordRAF spokesman |
| RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said the alarm was raised when the pilot lost contact with air traffic controllers who had been speaking to him at regular intervals. | RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said the alarm was raised when the pilot lost contact with air traffic controllers who had been speaking to him at regular intervals. |
| He suggested fears were growing for the man but he stressed rescuers were still holding on to the possibility there could be a happy resolution to the alert. | He suggested fears were growing for the man but he stressed rescuers were still holding on to the possibility there could be a happy resolution to the alert. |
| Mr Mulford said: "At the moment, we cannot say that he has indeed crashed but he is feared missing. | Mr Mulford said: "At the moment, we cannot say that he has indeed crashed but he is feared missing. |
| "It's simply at the alert stage. It has not officially reached distress stage or anything like that because it's early days. | "It's simply at the alert stage. It has not officially reached distress stage or anything like that because it's early days. |
| "But one has to remember what the weather can be like up there, it can be quite Arctic." | "But one has to remember what the weather can be like up there, it can be quite Arctic." |