Pilot in hospital after air show crash landing

AN AEROBATICS display pilot was rushed to hospital after crashing his plane whilelanding during an air show yesterday.

The man was flying a Twister display aircraft when he hit the ground prematurely before the landing gear was deployed.

Tim Urry, who attended the air show, said: ‘It looked like he needed to land and he tried to turn as quickly as he could and just brought it into the ground. It didn’t look too hard so hopefully he is okay.’

He added: ‘I go to air shows quite often and thankfully I don’t see things like this happen too often.’ Organisers of the Abingdon Air and Country Show in Oxfordshire confirmed the pilot was conscious and that he was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford hospital just after 2.30pm.

No one else was injured in the crash. A spokesman for the event said: ‘A single engine aircraft has been involved in an incident within the display area. Our responders were quick to the scene and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed.’

The air show, which began at 1.30pm, was temporarily suspended but began again at around 4pm after organisers gave the all-clear.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: ‘[The pilot] was breathing and conscious. Ambulance and fire are in attendance and the relevant air authorities have been notified.’

In 2015, a pilot flying a vintage plane at the Shoreham air show crashed, killing 11 people. The plane, a Hawker Hunter, failed to complete a loop-theloop manoeuvre and crashed into cars on a nearby A road. Sixteen people, including pilot Andy Hill, were injured.