
Spitfire: Second World War fighter plane crashes in Kent, but pilot and passenger 'uninjured'
A Second World War Spitfire fighter plane has crashed in a field in Kent.
The plane, owned by Fly A Spitfire, went down "in the vicinity of Hythe on 03/05/2025 (Saturday)", the company said in a statement on its website.
In a statement, the firm said: "We are aware of an incident involving one of our Spitfire aircraft.
"We can confirm that a precautionary landing was made at a non-airfield site. The pilot and passenger are uninjured and at this stage we have no further information."
Witnesses told local media the plane "misfired above a caravan park" and "narrowly" missed trees before it crashed in a field.
Video of the incident showed the plane heading towards the ground, but no evidence of an explosion was filmed.
The crash happened in the build-up to the , but although some reports said the plane was rehearsing for them, this has not been confirmed.
Fly A Spitfire, which charges between £450 and £1,800 for an outing in one of its aircraft, said its Spitfire flight operations "will continue as planned".
This Thursday, 8 May, marks exactly 80 years since victory in Europe following the Second World War, was declared.
Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Monday to see a military procession and a flypast as well as a performance of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory address, read by actor Timothy Spall, who played Britain's wartime leader in the 2010 film, The King's Speech.
Spitfires played a huge role in the eventual victory during the Battle of Britain, by "defending British airspace against the German Luftwaffe from July to October 1940," Spitfires.com said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
37 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Ghost hunt event to take place at Llanyrafon Manor Farm
Llanyrafon Manor Farm, in Cwmbran, is hosting a 12-hour lockdown and fear ball ghost hunt. Those brave enough are invited to bring their own bedding and spend the night inside the reportedly haunted building. (Image: Supplied) The event will include a paranormal investigation with Tracey and Nigel Turner, séance technique experiments, and a free exploration of the site's three acres of grounds. Visitors will have access to most areas, including the Tudor kitchen, Great Chamber, and attic bedrooms. The history of Llanyrafon Manor Farm dates back to the mid-1500s, and it's thought that a timber-framed medieval building stood on the site as far back as the 13th century. The site was possibly a farm for the monks of Llantarnam Abbey, and some of its remains can still be seen today. The Griffiths family owned the manor for centuries, with the earliest member of the family appearing to be Walter Griffith of Llanyrafon, who practised as an attorney and left a will dated November 20, 1629. The manor once stood in a thousand acres of ground, and during the First World War, three Italian prisoners of war worked on the farm. In the Second World War, members of the Women's Land Army worked the farm, learning how to perform tasks including ploughing, milking, harvesting, and digging. Today, Llanyrafon Manor Farm stands as grand as ever, its history once again showcased for all to enjoy. A free breakfast and unlimited teas, coffees, hot chocolate, bottled waters, juice, and biscuits will be available. The event is not open to pregnant ladies or anyone intending to consume drugs or alcohol. Over in Abersychan, Garndiffaith Millennium Hall will host a murder mystery evening. (Image: Supplied) The event, which will run from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday, June 7, invites attendees to come along and solve the mystery. A ploughman's supper is included in the ticket price of £6.50. For those interested in the murder mystery evening, tickets will be available from the hall or via Eventbrite. Flash Back will travel across the border to the Olway Inn, Usk, on Saturday, June 7. (Image: Supplied) The band will perform rock and pop hits from the 60s to the 00s, promising an evening of dance and sing-along for all. Tintern Abbey will also be hosting a historical event over both days of the weekend. (Image: Supplied) Visitors will be able to discover all about monastic life in the high medieval period at one of the nation's largest monasteries of the time. The Chapter of Stronghold re-enactment group will portray the lives of monastic people, including monks, nuns, and laypeople as they write, pray, live, and eat at Tintern Abbey. There will be authentic cooking, manuscript writing, a holy reliquary, and more. Normal admission prices apply for this event.


Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I stayed in a floating yacht hotel in Europe – we had champagne breakfasts on a budget and even spotted celebs
Gibraltar's biggest attraction in every sense is the looming mound of limestone that dominates everything here FLOAT YOUR BOAT I stayed in a floating yacht hotel in Europe – we had champagne breakfasts on a budget and even spotted celebs Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DAVID WALLIAMS was sitting at the next table offering to massage a newlywed couple. First morning aboard the Sunborn floating hotel in Gibraltar and the professional extrovert was in full character, engaging with star-struck holidaymakers as only he can, with a twinkle in his eye. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Gibraltar has for so long been pigeonholed as a stopover for day trippers - but why not stay for longer? Credit: Shutterstock 6 David Walliams as in full character, engaging with star-struck holidaymakers as only he can, with a twinkle in his eye Credit: Instagram 6 Get to the top of the Rock via the scenic cable car Credit: Getty We arrived too late the night before to catch the Little Britain comic's one-man show at a sports centre but apparently it went down a storm. He has already asked to return for November's literary festival, and it's no surprise. Gibraltar has for so long been pigeonholed as a stopover for day trippers. Passengers on the 250-odd cruise ships that briefly moor under the Rock's majestic presence dash around to see a few sights but mainly aim to take advantage of the VAT-free shopping. It's a trend the local tourist board is working hard to reverse. They want travellers to take more time fully taking in the surprisingly large number of things to do on a tiny sun-kissed slab of Britain at the mouth of the Med. And when beer is just £3.75 a pint, why not stay longer to enjoy? Secret bunker Gibraltar's gripping history has a deep association with our Armed Forces. The Royal Engineers were founded here in the 18th century and practically built the place. The honeycomb of tunnels dug by clever sappers during World War Two offers a fascinating insight into the work of our determined Armed Forces and the strategic importance of Gibraltar during the conflict. In one cavern hangs a full-size replica of a legendary Spitfire fighter plane. There is also the spine-chilling story of the Stay Behind Cave — the once secret bunker carved into the heart of the mountain, complete with provisions for a year and a bicycle generator. An elite group of patriotic volunteers agreed to be sealed off from the outside world for a year and spy on the Axis powers, should Gibraltar get overrun — the ultimate one-way ticket in the line of duty. From the exotic Moorish times, through the centuries of the British Empire and beyond, there are tours to take and a bloody back story to hear in the name of entertainment. Strait of Gibraltar Tunnel: A New Bridge Between Continents My wife and I stayed four nights on the permanently moored Sunborn yacht hotel, anchored flush against the dockside of Gibraltar's Ocean Village. It's a 5H joint, and the food and service reflects that. Yet even in high season, a spacious double room with a large window can be yours for £185 a night, including champagne breakfast. Step ashore and you can be seated in one of many lively bars with giant outdoor screens beaming major sports from back home. If that's not for you, just 50 yards away is Little Bay Restaurant — a vibrant Indian fusion eaterie where bubbly manager Kelly welcomes you with warm cockney charm, before delicately blended curries combined with zingy cocktails top off an early summer evening. Gibraltar's biggest attraction in every sense is the looming mound of limestone that dominates everything here. Get to the top via the scenic cable car and peer down from the stomach-churning Skywalk 1,400 feet above the sparkling sea — opened by Luke Skywalker, aka Mark Hamill, himself. Take in the view across the Straits, a 15-mile- wide blue chasm separating Europe from North Africa — which David Walliams heroically swam in aid of Sport Relief in 2008. The Northern Defences are also worth a visit. This cavernous labyrinth of tunnels has been added to over time, since the eighth century. Our guide, Karl Viagas, is steadfastly uncovering more historical treasures underground that will be spectacular when fully open. 6 You can peer down from the stomach-churning Skywalk 1,400 feet above the sparkling sea — opened by Luke Skywalker, aka Mark Hamill, himself Credit: InfoGibraltar 6 Soldiers in traditional uniform Credit: Supplied 6 The view of Gibraltar from the top of the Rock Credit: Getty James Bond creator Ian Fleming was stationed here with Naval Intelligence, and daring undersea attacks on the Allied fleet by Italian scubamen in the war fuelled his already vivid imagination for future books and movies. And in true 007 style, we were accompanied by a glamorous former Miss World who would grace any Bond movie. Kaiane Aldorino, former Mayor of Gibraltar, is now an ambassador for the territory. Sunshine, cheap beer and a beauty queen for company — plus you can spend British pounds. But like many places, travel and the natural world can often rub each other up the wrong way. Gibraltar's playful macaque monkeys are funny to watch for a time but have become a way for taxi drivers to make a few easy quid. The roads at the top of the rock were clogged with cabbies queuing to feed junk food to these wild animals in return for them doing tricks. Far better to join Brian Gomila on his Monkey Talk tour in the kinder environment of the surrounding trees. And if you really want to go green, join Stuart at EBike-Gibraltar. Power-assisted cycling on a lap around the base of the rock is easy on the legs and the eyes as you stop off at small fishing villages with inviting beaches. There's a lot of fun to be had too. A dizzying gin-tasting session at the Spirit Of The Rock distillery was as enlightening as it was alcoholic. David Walliams might agree, it's Little Britain — but with Spanish style and weather.


Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Whispers in the Glen by Sue Lawrence review: 'an unusual novel'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This is an engaging and agreeable novel, an unusual one, too, with a strong narrative and for the most part pleasant and credible characters. It is set mostly in Glen Clova in Angus, though some chapters are set in France. It has a double time-frame, the story being set partly in the First World War, partly in the Second. What is unusual is that we move between these two periods from the beginning, and it is not immediately clear why the author has chosen this arrangement. It soon makes sense, however, and proves very effective. Glen Clova | Getty Images In the first chapter the two main protagonists are middle-aged, neither married. Effie - Euphemia - is the village schoolmistress while Nell is serving as the wartime postie, also helping in the bar at the local hotel. Effie, though a kind and understanding teacher, is grumpy at home. You soon suspect that something has gone wrong in her life. Nell seems much more at ease, much happier. Their mother is long, somewhat mysteriously dead. Their father, the local dominie, is shown in the First World War passages to have been harsh and disagreeable. Is there something mysterious about his wife's death? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Somewhat surprisingly, both Effie and Nell are fluent French-speakers. In the First World War passages this is soon explained: Nell is working as a nurse in a field hospital in France, the work and conditions being well described. One officer, himself from Angus, is disagreeable, but put in his place by a crippled French chef. Meanwhile, back in Glen Clova, Effie spends part of the First World War working on an aunt's form. She has a harsh experience which colours or rather discolours her life. Then, in the Second World War, there is a plane crash at the top of the Glen, an event which comes with consequences. However, the author eschews most violent drama; this is a very sane novel. Lawrence has evident sympathy and affection for her characters, and the evocation of rural Scotland a hundred years ago is engaging, pleasing with its echoes of JM Barrie's Thrums, though there is none of the sentimentality for so long associated with the Kailyard. Sensibly, Lawrence has chosen not to attempt to try to reproduce the language of rural Scots a hundred years ago, and to write in Standard English. Nevertheless, her feeling for the life of the Angus Glens rings agreeably true. This is a quiet novel, agreeably persuasive, and this makes its occasional violent, even vicious, moments all the more telling. It is, I suppose, a feminist book, though not stridently so. There are two deplorable men, the girls' father and a Kirriemuir man, the officer first met by Nell in France who has more than a touch of the villain about him. He is necessary to the plot, and, though unpleasant, not exaggeratedly so. In general the novel is suffused by a sense of decency and kindness, rare in fiction today, and it brings this off without a trace of sentimentality. In short, Lawrence has written an admirable novel with persuasive characters, the treatment of the two sisters being as convincing as it is agreeable. If the ending proves a bit on the sentimental side, its generosity is convincing.