Update 7.50pm: Debris has been found in the search for a missing aircraft off the coast of Antrim.

Two passengers are believed to have been on board the plane, which had taken off from Derry Airport last evening.

The coastguard says the debris was found north of Glenarm by a yacht.

The wreckage has been confirmed as belonging to the microlight aircraft.

An Irish Coastguard helicopter, a helicopter from Scotland and five RNLI lifeboats took part in the search operation.

Earlier: Two people are feared dead after wreckage from a missing microlight was found off the coast of Northern Ireland.

The Coastguard said debris from the aircraft had been found in the sea north of Glenarm, Co Antrim.

The flight carrying two people took off from City of Derry airport yesterday and had been tracking towards Stranraer in Scotland.

A major land, sea and air search was launched.

The operation continued into the early hours of Friday when it was suspended due to fog but resumed on Friday morning.

The Coastguard said a yacht that had joined the search efforts located the wreckage.

Police are providing support to the families of the two missing people.

A fixed wing aircraft and the Irish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter were involved in the extensive search operation.

Coastguard teams conducted a shore search while five RNLI lifeboats from Larne and Red Bay in Northern Ireland and Portpatrick in Scotland spent the day scouring the North Channel.