The 71-year-old, who was flying a 1943 Piper Cub aeroplane, disappeared during a scheduled three-hour leg between Sudan and Ethiopia while taking part in the Vintage Air Rally from Crete to Cape Town.

Organisers said that Mr Kirk, who now lives in Bristol, had ignored a request to withdraw from the rally having suffered two engine failures and due to his lack of navigational equipment.

However, rally organisers report that Mr Kirk is now 'safe and accounted for' in Ethiopia.