NATO jets scramble to find plane crash after private aircraft 'disappeared from radar'
A PRIVATE plane has crashed off the Latvian coast as fighter jets scrambled to follow its journey, reports show.
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According to data from FlightRadar24, the Cessna 551 took off from Jerez in southern Spain at 1.56pm UK time. German news site Bild said that the aircraft was meant to land at Cologne-Bonn airport.
However, it reported pressure problems in the cabin shortly after take off.
Bild added that French and Spanish jets followed the aircraft but couldn't see anybody in the cockpit or cabin.
A family of three and a pilot were aboard, according to reports.
Flight trackers showed that the aircraft headed northeast at Paris towards Cologne.
However, the plane went past the city and eventually over the Baltic Sea.
German and Danish warplanes shadowed the aircraft as it passed through their airspace.
According to Johan Wahlstrom, a Swedish Maritime Administration official, they were unable to make contact.
NATO jets from the Baltic Air Police mission in Estonia also followed the aircraft, according to a Lithuanian air force spokesperson.
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UPDATE The aircraft may have suffered decompression and the people on board then became unconscious. The Cessna 551 Citation II was flying at 36,000ft when it reported a pressure problem https://t.co/RKBuvGaUaP
— Carlos Conceicao ツ (@CarlosTkd_) September 4, 2022
A Cessna 551 that was flying from Jerez was supposed to land in Cologne but the pilot didn't answer ATC calls and the aircraft contiued to fly on autopilot in a straight line before it lost altitude and crashed into Baltic sea close to the Latvian coast https://t.co/iIVNoMNksW pic.twitter.com/klQQosArTg
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 4, 2022
The aircraft also passed close to the Swedish island of Gotland.
However, according to FlightRadar24, the private plane started rapidly losing altitude and speed at 6.37PM.
Sweden's rescue service claimed it had "disappeared from radar" and crashed into the sea northwest of Ventspils in Latvia.
Lithuania has sent an air force helicopter and naval ships in an attempt to find the aircraft.
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Murgs :(
— Asniņš (@Asninch) September 4, 2022
Crash Of Cessna 551 OEFGR On Flightradar24 https://t.co/l3Dd5o40dL via @YouTube
A Stena Line ferry has also been sent out to help, according to reports.
The Cessna 551 is a 14-metre long single-pilot that is able to carry six to eight passengers and was originally registered in Austria.