Reports of a light aircraft crash off the Galway Coast have been declared a false alarm.

An air and sea search operation has just returned to base following reports from a member of the public on Inis Mór that a plane may have crashed off the Galway Coast.

A rescue helicopter was immediately launched from Shannon Airport and a number of lifeboats were also launched in the area.

The search concentrated on an area between Inis Mór and Ros a Mhil in Connemara.

The rescue helicopter has already returned to Shannon and Air Traffic Control at the airport has confirmed that all aircrafts in the area have been accounted for.