Human remains were found on the small aircraft (Image: BBC)
Human remains have been found inside the wreckage of a small plane recovered from the North Sea.
The aircraft was found at about 2.20pm on Friday (December 6) in waters north east of Lerwick in Shetland.
The plane was brought ashore on Sunday (December 8) by Peterhead fishing boat Barnakle II and was found to contain human remains.
Police met the trawler at the port and the wreckage loaded onto a truck. It is understood to have been taken for further examination.
According to reports, Police Scotland said: “Police received a report of a small aircraft having been recovered from the water in the North Sea, north-east of Lerwick, around 2.20pm on Friday December 6.
“The aircraft was brought to shore on Sunday December 8, and human remains were found within.”
Investigations into the discovery are ongoing but it is being linked to an aircraft from Germany with the 62-year-old pilot on board which lost contact over the North Sea last September 30.
It took off at 10.27am and is understood not to have filed a flight plan. The pilot was reported to be experienced and in good health.
The last radar contact with the plane was recorded by Norwegian air traffic control at 4.45pm, around seven minutes after it began descending at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute.
A search was launched after the Cessna was reported missing by its owner on October 1, when the pilot did not return at the agreed time.
The coastguard supported German authorities in searching for the Cessna 172S Skyhawk between Shetland and Norway, in the UK search and rescue region.
However, HM Coastguard said at the time there was no sign of the plane and the search was stood down on October 2.
The incident was investigated by the Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung, or the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation.
Following the discovery of the wreckage, one well-wisher in Shetland posted on social media: “Hopefully closure for family of the pilot and plane that went missing last October.”