Loch Ness ‘plane crash’ alert still a mystery

a MASSIVE search operation was triggered after reports of a mysterious object falling from the sky over Loch Ness.

Coastguards, a lifeboat crew, police teams and an RAF search and rescue helicopter were scrambled after reports of people seeing what was variously described a light aircraft, a parachute and a balloon coming down over the famous loch.

However, no trace of any craft or crew was found after rescuers were alerted on Saturday night, prompting speculation it could have been a meteor shower or a Chinese lantern.

An area of three square miles towards the north end of the loch was combed following the reports from south of the village of Dores at about 8pm.

Police and a Coastguard search team were joined by a RNLI lifeboat and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.

The shoreline and woods surrounding the loch were also scoured.

The extensive search was unable to find anything linked to the sightings and teams were stood down at about 11:15pm on Saturday.

One eyewitness, Denise Rooney, described the object as a “white globe”.

Writing on Facebook, she said: “I was having a BBQ on the hills near Dores/Loch Ness. I pointed out a white globe that I thought was a star initially, but it moved across the sky.

“It was very far away. Could have been anything and it was on a steady path.

“I just remembered thinking I could see it but not hear it, and it was an unusual flight path from that direction.”

The lifeboat crew spoke to a group of people on the beach at Dores, on the eastern shore of the loch, who said they had seen a “balloon-like” object just above trees in the area.

Another reported sighting was of a parachute.

Loch Ness RNLI crew member Martin Douglas said: “A member of the public reported seeing a hang-glider or microlight descending into the loch.

“The RNLI lifeboat crew spoke to people on the shoreline who stated that they had seen a balloon-like object just above the tree line near Dores.”

Mr Douglas added: “An earlier report from another source stated that they may have seen a parachute.”

Lifeboat crew member Vivian Bailey said: “Speed of arrival on scene was essential, and we were able to link our search efforts with those of the Coastguard and RAF, something we practise regularly.

“We believe the reports were based on sightings causing genuine concern, and we commend the actions of the members of the public that contacted the emergency services.”

Northern Constabulary is appealing for anyone with information related to the sighting to contact them.

A spokeswoman said: “Northern Constabulary and HM Coastguard responded to a report of an object falling from the sky on the south side of Loch Ness, two to five kilometres south-west of the village of Dores.

“The object was described as being round, balloon-like in shape and blue in colour.

“An extensive search was carried out by police, Coastguard, Loch Ness lifeboat and RAF search and rescue helicopter 137, with nothing untoward being found.”

The search provoked considerable interest on social networking websites, including from abroad.

Jim Roberts, an assistant managing editor at the New York Times, commented on Twitter: “A great story”.

On www.abovetopsecret.com, which describes itself as the internet’s largest discussion forum on “alternative topics”, there were suggestions that the sighting could have been the result of a meteor shower, a Chinese candle lantern – or a UFO.