Inflatable penguins’ spark North Sea search-and-rescue mission

A major air and sea search sparked by reports of a crashed plane off the Scottish coast was called off when two inflatable penguins were found.

An RAF rescue helicopter and a lifeboat were called out off Rosehearty, Buchan, after a member of the public reported a possible microlight crash.

However, the Fraserburgh lifeboat crew found two 3ft inflatable penguins.



Aberdeen Coastguard's Alan Shand said the sheen from the balloons may have caused the confusion. Mr Shand said: "A member of the public called, thinking it was a crashed microlight, from the sheen. It was two large balloons. I can see why they mistook the balloons."

The RAF Lossiemouth Sea King was scrambled on Tuesday afternoon to the incident about a quarter-of-a-mile off the coast, along with the lifeboat and three Coastguard teams.

The incident was described as a well-intentioned false alarm.