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Search-and-rescue plane crash lands on Jersey Search-and-rescue plane crash lands on Jersey
(35 minutes later)
A search-and-rescue plane with five people on board has crash-landed on the north coast of Jersey while searching for two missing fishermen.A search-and-rescue plane with five people on board has crash-landed on the north coast of Jersey while searching for two missing fishermen.
The five people onboard the twin-engine propeller plane, which crash-landed just after 19:15 GMT in woodland close to the Priory Inn, at Devil's Hole, St Mary, are said to be uninjured.The five people onboard the twin-engine propeller plane, which crash-landed just after 19:15 GMT in woodland close to the Priory Inn, at Devil's Hole, St Mary, are said to be uninjured.
Emergency services are at the scene.Emergency services are at the scene.
It is understood the two people reported missing off the coast in a dinghy remain unaccounted for.It is understood the two people reported missing off the coast in a dinghy remain unaccounted for.
'Miraculous escape''Miraculous escape'
John Gripton, managing editor of BBC Radio Jersey, said the plane was "intact" after "hitting a tree perilously close to the cliff top" at Devil's Hole.John Gripton, managing editor of BBC Radio Jersey, said the plane was "intact" after "hitting a tree perilously close to the cliff top" at Devil's Hole.
"There are reports that engines on the aircraft failed and that the plane used the twinkling lights of the pub in the darkness on the north coast as a target to try to land the craft on dry land," he told the BBC News Channel."There are reports that engines on the aircraft failed and that the plane used the twinkling lights of the pub in the darkness on the north coast as a target to try to land the craft on dry land," he told the BBC News Channel.
"Five people were on board and miraculously they appear to be ok and uninjured, and currently with the emergency services at the pub.""Five people were on board and miraculously they appear to be ok and uninjured, and currently with the emergency services at the pub."
A Jersey Police statement said: "At 7.15pm the emergency services received a call from the Airport Fire Service and Coastguard who were reporting issues with a Channel Island Air Search plane. A Jersey Police statement said: "At 7.15pm the emergency services received a call from the Airport Fire Service and Coastguard who were reporting issues with a Channel Island Air Search (CIAS) plane.
"The plane subsequently made an emergency landing in a field in St Mary."The plane subsequently made an emergency landing in a field in St Mary.
"Five people were on board, all are OK and currently with officers."Five people were on board, all are OK and currently with officers.
"We have no confirmed injuries at this time. The plane has been made safe by the fire service."We have no confirmed injuries at this time. The plane has been made safe by the fire service.
"The aircraft is confirmed as the Lion's Pride, a PBN-2B Islander aircraft built in 1982.""The aircraft is confirmed as the Lion's Pride, a PBN-2B Islander aircraft built in 1982."
Mr Gripton said the crash happened during gale-force winds and torrential rain in a very rural part of the island, and as such it was pitch black. He said emergency services were continuing to search the surrounding woodland.Mr Gripton said the crash happened during gale-force winds and torrential rain in a very rural part of the island, and as such it was pitch black. He said emergency services were continuing to search the surrounding woodland.
John Dowling, manager of the Priory Inn, said the five people onboard had gone into his pub with police after they landed. John Dowling, manager of the Priory Inn, said the five people onboard had gone into his pub with police after the incident.
'Shaken up''Shaken up'
"No-one was injured, everyone was all right and that is the main thing, isn't it?" he said."No-one was injured, everyone was all right and that is the main thing, isn't it?" he said.
"Of course they were shaken up."Of course they were shaken up.
"You would be too if you'd just crash landed a plane, wouldn't you?""You would be too if you'd just crash landed a plane, wouldn't you?"
A number of vessels had been searching for the two people missing at sea, including the volunteer CIAS aircraft, which is based in neighbouring Guernsey.A number of vessels had been searching for the two people missing at sea, including the volunteer CIAS aircraft, which is based in neighbouring Guernsey.
The French coastguard is now coordinating the search over a 100 square miles near the Ecrehous, a group of islands and rocks six miles north-east of Jersey.The French coastguard is now coordinating the search over a 100 square miles near the Ecrehous, a group of islands and rocks six miles north-east of Jersey.
Lifeboats from Jersey and Alderney are among the vessels searching, along with the Solent Coastguard.Lifeboats from Jersey and Alderney are among the vessels searching, along with the Solent Coastguard.