One Sunday, June 22, 2025, the Humber Coastguard received an emergency call reporting a small aircraft in distress approximately two to three nautical miles (3.7 to 5.6 kilometres) off the coast at Hemsby Gap, Norfolk. The alert came in at 12:34 BST, triggering a large-scale operation involving multiple lifeboat teams and aerial support.
The Hemsby Lifeboat team, led by Amanda Deeks, coordinated efforts alongside crews from Caister and Gorleston lifeboat stations. The Humber Coastguard also deployed a helicopter to assist in the search. All vessels in the nearby area were requested to join the search for the downed aircraft, which had reportedly sent out a distress beacon on its descent into the sea.
Despite the urgency and scale of the operation, key details about the aircraft remain unclear. The type of plane and the number of people on board were not known at the time of the search. It was also uncertain whether a life raft was deployed from the aircraft after it entered the water. Ms. Deeks indicated that lifeboat teams were prepared for an extended search if necessary.
After an extensive search involving lifeboat crews, a coastguard plane and a helicopter, HM Coastguard announced that no evidence of a missing aircraft had been found. Following further investigation, the search was officially called off. The reason behind the activation of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) beacon remains unknown.
The incident prompted significant concern along the Norfolk coast, with local rescue services mobilising quickly to respond to the distress call. However, the lack of any physical evidence or confirmed sightings of the aircraft has left questions unanswered about the nature of the emergency signal and whether a plane went down in the area.
Authorities have not released further information about any ongoing investigations or follow-up actions regarding the beacon alert. The Humber Coastguard and lifeboat services continue to monitor the situation but have no current indications of a plane crash at sea near Hemsby Gap.
Residents and those interested in updates on Norfolk news are encouraged to follow up on actions regarding the beacon alert. The Humber Coastguard and lifeboat services continue to monitor the situation but have no current indications of a plane crash at sea near Hemsby Gap.
Residents and those interested in updates on Norfolk news are encouraged to follow official channels, such as BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X for any new developments.
Although the reported plane crash off Hemsby Gap on June 22, 2025, led to a major search involving multiple rescue teams, it concluded without any evidence of a crash or missing aircraft. The cause of the distress beacon activation remains unexplained, and no casualties or wreckage have been confirmed.