RNLI's Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree lifeboats join Coastguard helicopter in sea and air search near Skye Bridge after possible beacon alert from aircraft
UPDATE (12.35pm): A SEA and air search around the Skye Bridge has been stood down after an earlier beacon alert was ruled out as a false alarm.
Kyle of Lochalsh's RNLI lifeboat was launched at about 9.35am to reports of the emergency beacon alert, which it was thought at the time could be from an aircraft. They were joined about 30 minutes later by the Portree lifeboat.
The Stornoway based Coastguard helicopter was also scrambled and was first on the area pinpointed by the emergency beacon signal.
But after completing a thorough search of the area nothing was found, and at 11.55am the search was stood down. Kyle lifeboat returned to station and was refuelled and made ready for service by 12.15pm.
A Kyle RNLI spokesperson said: ‘Although this was the a false alarm, it shows the importance of having an Emergency Beacon onboard your vessel or aircraft, and the difference it can make in an emergency.
"Within minutes of the signal being received the Coastguard were able to task multiple agencies to the scene to begin searching the area."
