SEARCHERS have called off their hunt for a missing pilot after a light aircraft that took off from Hampshire crashed in the English Channel.

Two people were on board the plane, which came down off the coast of Guernsey yesterday having left Lee-on-the Solent.

One woman was later taken to hospital in France, but rescuers spent hours last night and this morning looking for the second person – believed to be her husband.

The search stopped at midnight and resumed at 7am today, but was finally called off for good at lunchtime.

Colin La Ray, director of Guernsey Airport, said two people were on board the aircraft.

He said: “Shortly before 3.50pm a single-engined private aircraft with two persons on board ditched into the sea – 25 miles north-west of the coast of Guernsey.

“Emergency crews called to the scene included the Channel Islands Search and Rescue Helicopter.

“The aircraft was based in Alderney, and was en route from the south coast of the UK.”

As the plane had come down in international waters, French coastguards had co-ordinated the search and rescue efforts.

The woman from the plane was found on a life raft by a Russian merchant ship, the Jork Rider, which responded to a mayday call, Guernsey Coastguard said.

She was airlifted to Cherbourg hospital, in France, where her injuries were described as non life threatening.

A river class offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Navy HMS Tyne joined in the search yesterday because of its night vision capabilities.

Lifeboats from Alderney and Normandy and a large tug boat named the Abeille Liberte also helped.