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Human remains were found inside the wreck a plane that’s over is missing on the coast Scotland more than a year ago.
Police are investigating after a fishing boat discovered a small craft in waters north-east of Lerwick on Friday, they said Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The wreckage of the German-registered Cessna 172 was washed ashore in Shetland on Sunday, an AAIB spokesman said.
Police Scotland said the force was investigating after human remains were found in the four-seater boat when it was brought ashore.
The German Federal Office for Aviation Accident Investigation (BFU) is also investigating the incident.
The plane disappeared in the North Sea in September last year.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the pilot rented the Cessna on September 30, 2023 to visit relatives in Bayreuth, with plans to return the next day. When he failed to do so, the owner reported the plane missing on October 1.
It is claimed that the pilot’s wife was supposed to be a passenger, but that morning he told her that he would no longer be flying with him. The Aviation Safety Network said the BFU “reported that it was unaware of the circumstances and motive”.
Following the aircraft’s flight path, the Aviation Safety Network report states: “According to radar records, shortly after takeoff, before crossing the Elbe River, the aircraft headed northwest (approximately 300°). The indicated destination, Bayreuth, is 143 NM south-southeast.
“At approximately 12:05 p.m., the aircraft turned further north (approximately 330°) and entered Danish airspace approximately seven minutes later at an altitude of 6,200 feet AMSL. At 13:43 Norwegian air traffic control detected an aircraft on the same course in international airspace. From 14:47 to 14:52, the aircraft climbed from 6,200 feet to 8,500 feet AMSL and continued its flight in a north-northwest direction over the North Sea.
“At approximately 4:38 p.m., the aircraft began descending at an average rate of 1,000 feet per minute and initially veered to the right from a northerly course, followed by numerous small course changes. The last radar contact was recorded by Norwegian Air Traffic Control at 1645, approximately 70 NM SE of the Shetland Islands (UK) and just over 500 NM from the take-off airport, at 1700 feet AMSL (about six hours and 19 minutes after take-off and eight minutes after descent has begun).”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police received reports of a small craft being recovered from the water in the North Sea, north-east of Lerwick, at around 2.20pm on Friday 6 December 2024.
“The aircraft was brought to shore on Sunday, December 8, and human remains were found in it. Investigations are ongoing.”
An AAIB spokesman said: “We have been informed that the remains of the German registered Cessna 172, which was lost in the North Sea in September 2023, was recovered by a fishing vessel on December 6 and brought ashore in Shetland earlier today.
“The loss of the plane was initially investigated by the Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) of Germany. The AAIB is supporting Police Scotland and is working with the BFU to assist their safety investigation.”