Ocean Search After Brit Couple Plane Crash

A British pensioner is missing after the tourist plane he and his wife were travelling in crashed into the English Channel north east of Guernsey.

She was rescued by helicopter and taken to hospital in Cherbourg suffering from shock, while the search for her husband continued.

The pair are understood to have been the only passengers in the light aircraft.

Two other helicopters, a plane and several rescue boats including offshore patrol vessel HMS Tyne scoured the ocean for hours after the accident.

But a Guernsey Coastguard spokesman said aircraft were no longer being used in the search.

"The nature of the rescue is now marine-based as the helicopters have since been stood down," he said.

"Also taking part in the search are lifeboats from Alderney and Normandy - with a large tug boat named the Abeille Liberte also deployed."

The woman rescued was found on a life raft by Russian merchant ship,the Jork Rider, which responded to a mayday call.

A fishing boat found wreckage believed to be from around the plane's wheel and soon after the woman was discovered.