MISSING pilot Alexander de Gruchy had learned to fly only recently before his light aircraft crashed on Sunday.

He was returning from London after watching the England-Australia rugby match at Twickenham. It is understood that some of his friends had been invited to accompany him on the trip.

The 25-year-old started flying lessons this year and obtained his private pilot’s licence in August. His Sirrus SR-22 aircraft crashed into the sea 14 miles north of Cherbourg and yesterday plane debris was recovered by French rescue vessels. Today investigators will start work to establish the cause of the crash.

The former Victoria College student was the main funeral director of the Five Oaks-based family owned business De Gruchy’s Funeral Directors. His father David said today: ‘Alexander touched the lives of so many who knew him. Whenever he went out, people would come up to him to thank him for being so understanding in their time of grief.’

Alex lived with his parents David and Kathy at their Noirmont home and had a sister named Cirsty.