Human remains have been discovered in the wreckage of a German-registered Cessna light aircraft that disappeared over the North Sea more than a year ago. The wreckage was recovered by a fishing trawler northeast of Lerwick, Shetland, on Friday.
The trawler, Benarkle II, from Peterhead, hauled up a large section of the plane’s fuselage while fishing. Upon arriving at port on Sunday, the discovery was reported, prompting an investigation by Police Scotland and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Timeline of the Missing Cessna
The four-seater Cessna 172, piloted by a 62-year-old man, vanished on September 30, 2023, while en route from Norway to Hamburg, Germany. Its position was last recorded at 4:45 pm by Norwegian air traffic control during a rapid descent over the North Sea.
The aircraft failed to follow its planned route to Bayreuth, Germany, and no flight plan had been registered. Instead, the pilot flew in the opposite direction, passing over Denmark toward the North Sea. The Aviation Safety Network reported that the pilot unexpectedly changed his plans and informed his wife that she would not accompany him on the flight.
When the aircraft failed to return to Hamburg, its owner reported it missing on October 1, 2023. A UK Coastguard air-sea rescue operation was launched, but no signs of the plane were found, and the search was called off.
Recovery of Wreckage and Human Remains
The wreckage discovery comes more than 14 months after the aircraft went missing. Police Scotland confirmed human remains were found within the recovered section of the fuselage.
“We received a report of a small aircraft having been recovered from the North Sea on Friday, December 6, and brought to shore on Sunday, December 8. Human remains were found within the wreckage, and inquiries are ongoing,” a Police Scotland spokesperson stated.
Investigation and International Cooperation
The AAIB confirmed that the recovered wreckage belonged to the missing Cessna 172. “We were informed that the remains of a German-registered Cessna 172, lost in the North Sea in September 2023, had been recovered by a fishing vessel,” said an AAIB spokesperson.
The initial investigation into the aircraft’s disappearance was handled by Germany’s Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU). The AAIB is now assisting Police Scotland and collaborating with the BFU to support their safety investigation.
Aviation Safety Concerns Raised
The Aviation Safety Network highlighted unusual circumstances surrounding the flight, including the lack of a registered flight plan and the pilot’s decision to fly alone after informing his wife she would no longer accompany him.
The discovery of the wreckage and human remains may provide critical insights into the mysterious disappearance and help investigators identify potential safety concerns.
