Sunderland RNLI recover two large Remote control Planes during search off Seaham

The rescue mission was launched at 2:45pm this afternoon (20 April) when Coastguard Officers based at Humber Coastguard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre received an emergency call from a member of the public reporting the sighting of an orange flashing object in the sea about half a mile offshore.

Initially Coastguard Officers from Seaham Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to meet the first informant and confirm the location and description of the potential object.

Coastguards also contacted Sunderland RNLI to request the launch of their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.

The lifeboat launched 10 minutes later crewed by Luke McGill along with another three volunteer crew.

With assistance from Coastguard Officers the RNLI volunteers quickly located two objects which both turned out to be large remote controlled aeroplanes.

Luke McGill, Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said: ‘Thankfully the Coastguard Officers from Seaham were able to get some really good information from the first informant which allowed us to quickly locate the two aeroplanes.’

Once satisfied that the reporting sighting was one of the aeroplanes; the Coastguard released the lifeboat from the search allowing the volunteers to return to Sunderland.

Luke added: ‘We are extremely grateful to the member of the public who reported the initial sighting as the information they provided allowed us to quickly locate the two aeroplanes. Although on this occasions the sighting turned out to be a remote controlled plane; it could have very easily been a person in difficulty’.

The two aeroplanes have been returned to the lifeboat station at Sunderland and if anyone wishes to collect them; please contact the station on [email protected] or 0191 567 3536.

As a registered charity the RNLI relies on voluntary donations and legacies from the public for its income.

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Notes to editors

• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station is the oldest continually operation lifeboat in the United Kingdom. It was originally opened in 1800 before being adopted by the RNLI in 1865.

• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station has a profile on Twitter (SunderlandRNLI) and Facebook (RNLI Sunderland) where supporters can keep up to date with station specific activities and news.

• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station operates two inshore type lifeboats: An Atlantic 85 8.3m inflatable capable of 35 knots and a D Class (IB-1) 4.5m inflatable capable of 25 knots.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone:

Paul Nicholson, Sunderland RNLI Press Officer on 07957 494 077 or email - [email protected] or

Andy McGill, Sunderland RNLI Press Officer (Deputy) on 07980 089 622 or email - [email protected]

As an alternative please contact RNLI Headquarters Public Relations on 01202 336000.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.