UPDATED: A search of the Solent area is underway this evening (Friday) after a mayday call was heard from what is believed to be a light aircraft.
Coastguard Rescue 104 from Lee-on-Solent was scrambled at just before 19:00 after a faint Mayday call was heard on the marine distress channel 16.
The Coastguard helicopter is currently conducting a search pattern up and down the Solent from Lee-on-Solent to Bembridge and across to Chichester, although nothing untoward has yet been sighted.
The search remains precautionary at this time.
UPDATE @ 20:25 – Hamble Lifeboat and Calshot RNLI Lifeboat have joined the search efforts this evening.
UPDATE @ 21:40 – The search, which has involved lifeboats from Cowes, Hamble, Lymington and Calshot, has now been stood down.
Coastguard Rescue 104 has returned to base after more than 2 hours in the air, having completed a search of the River Medina, the Solent and harbours along the coast.
Nothing has been found.
