A light aircraft has crashed into the side of a cliff on the Isle of Man while the pilot was believed to still be onboard.   

Police have launched a rescue operation to save the person after they responded to reports of an incident shortly after 12pm yesterday at Bradda Head in Port Erin, on the south coast of the island in the Irish Sea.  

A helicopter and two lifeboats were reportedly called out to the scene, which was attended by local emergency services who were seen at the bottom of the cliff. 

Police said that Bradda head was 'under police guard' and advised members of the pubic to avoid the area.  

Video footage of the incident shows smoke billowing from the crash site as people watch on from a nearby viewpoint on the opposite side of the bay. 

A police spokesperson said that teams would be 'working with aviation crash investigators through the evening'. 

They added: 'The water and air space around the site is also closed to the public.  

'Additionally, there is a temporary restricted airspace for drones and other light aircraft.' 

The Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration have banned any drones from flying within 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) of Bradda Head at any level 'due to ongoing search and rescue operations near Port Erin'.  

This restriction in place until 23:59 today and may be extended, it added.  

(Source: Daily Mail)