Maritime patrol aircraft ditched near Isle of Portland due to fuel exhaustion (K8711)

What happened

The incident involved a maritime patrol mission departing from RAF Thorney Island. During the night phase of the flight, the crew faced significantly reduced visibility caused by thick fog. As the aircraft's fuel reserves became critically low, the pilot made the decision to ditch the plane in the water. The emergency landing occurred approximately three kilometers northeast of the Isle of Portland. Following the ditching, all four individuals on board were successfully rescued from the water. The aircraft subsequently sank and was not recovered.

Findings

The primary driver for the emergency ditching was the combination of adverse weather conditions and fuel exhaustion. The thick fog likely complicated navigation and increased fuel consumption or delayed a safe landing, forcing the crew to choose the sea as the only viable option for survival.