Lifeboat crews were scrambled in the dead of night after an emergency aircraft signal sparked a massive search off the UK’s south coast.
RNLI Dungeness Race Against Time
Volunteers from Dungeness Lifeboat Station were paged at 2:08am on Saturday, March 14, following reports of a distress squawk from an aircraft.
The lifeboat launched just 22 minutes later, racing to the plane’s last known position at full speed.
Four-Hour Sea and Air Search Comes Up Empty
The volunteers scoured the waters with two detailed search patterns while an HM Coastguard helicopter combed the skies above.
But after a relentless four-hour operation, the lifeboat crews found no trace of the aircraft or any sign of trouble.
The Coastguard called off the search just before 7am, sending the lifeboat back to base.
Mystery Signal Leaves Officials Baffled
Authorities have yet to reveal what caused the aircraft’s emergency alert.
The investigation is ongoing, with the baffling incident still shrouded in mystery.
