Flying Light Aircraft

Coastguard teams and RNLI volunteers have been searching for the light aircraft which went missing

The aircraft was approaching Blackpool Airport after 9am when it vanished from radar screens

The aircraft was on a 70-mile journey between the Isle of Man and Blackpool in poor weather conditions

Contact was lost with the pilot some three miles out at sea.

The search was suspended last night due to poor visibility.

The plane disappeared off the radar on its approach to the airport shortly after 9am.

Debris was found off the coast as a result of the extensive search over an area of 45 square nautical miles, said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The hunt involved UK Coastguard Rescue teams, several RNLI lifeboats, a Southport Rescue Independent lifeboat and two helicopters, one from Coastguard search and rescue based at Caernarfon and a police helicopter based at Warton.

Matthew Mace, duty controller at the UK Coastguard, said: 'We have used all the means and assets available to search an extensive area off the Blackpool coast for this missing aircraft. We have suspended today's search due to failing light and we will review overnight what searches will be conducted tomorrow.'

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews from Lytham St Annes and Bispham were at the scene providing assistance to police and coastguard teams.

The missing aircraft is believed to be a Rockwell Commander, pictured, which was built in 1995

The aircraft left the Isle of Man and was flying over the Irish Sea towards Blackpool when it vanished

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We got a call at 9:17am from police, the information given was that (there was) a light aircraft en route from the Isle of Man to Blackpool Airport with one person on board, obviously the pilot.

'The communications were lost with the air traffic control some three miles out at sea.'

Lytham St Annes coastguard rescue team, along with three RNLI lifeboats, two from Lytham St Annes and one from Blackpool, are involved in the search.

The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon was also tasked to assist with the operation.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a decision would be taken overnight on whether the search would resume in the morning.