A small plane with four people on board disappeared from the radar after taking off from the Croatian Adriatic city of Split towards Germany on Sunday.

It is feared that the plane with its pilot and three passengers may have crashed in northern Croatia, Croatian media reported.

Rescue teams searched for the Cessna 182 machine, but initially with no result.

The search was made more difficult by the bad weather, it said.

Helicopters could therefore not be used, instead drones would be used.

The Rheinische Post reports that the plane is owned by the Bayer Leverkusen air sports club and was on the return flight to Germany.

However, the air sports club did not provide any information about the pilot.