Latest news with #FlyaSpitfire
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
WWII Spitfire plane crash lands in Kent field ahead of VE Day events
A rare Second World War-era Spitfire was forced to crash-land in a field in West Hythe on Saturday evening, just hours before VE Day commemorations were set to begin across the UK. The vintage aircraft, a two-seater Spitfire MJ627, made what its operator described as a 'precautionary landing' in a crop field on Lower Wall Road, narrowly avoiding catastrophe. Despite significant damage to the aircraft's propeller, the airframe remained intact, and both the pilot and passenger escaped unharmed. The aircraft is owned by Fly a Spitfire, a vintage flight experience company based in the UK. In a statement, the company confirmed: 'We have spoken to the pilot, who advised that a precautionary landing was made at a non-airfield site. The pilot and passenger are uninjured.' The aircraft lost power mid-flight, prompting the emergency descent. Emergency services, including Kent Fire and Rescue Service, were dispatched to the scene at 19:25 BST, deploying two fire engines to secure the area. One of the two occupants was treated at the scene by paramedics as a precaution. Fire crews left the site around 9pm. Spitfire MJ627 is no ordinary aircraft. It was delivered into service in September 1944, and famously shot down a Messerschmitt Me 109 just two days later during Operation Market Garden over Arnhem. The aircraft has since become a living piece of aviation history, appearing in airshows and offering passenger flights. This is not the first emergency for MJ627. In 1998, it made a 'wheels-up landing' at Coventry Airport, and in 2024, its cockpit canopy detached during take-off from Biggin Hill — though both incidents resulted in safe landings and no injuries. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an inquiry into Saturday's incident to determine the exact cause of the power failure.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WW2 Spitfire makes emergency landing in field
A World War Two Spitfire has been forced to make an emergency landing in Kent. Spitfire MJ627 came down in a field on Lower Wall Road, West Hythe, on Saturday evening, said its owner Fly a Spitfire. Kent Fire & Rescue Service said one of the two people in the plane, which saw action over the Netherlands in 1944, was treated by paramedics. Fly a Spitfire said: "We have spoken to the pilot who has advised that a precautionary landing was made at a non-airfield site." The company said the pilot and passenger "are uninjured", adding that it had no further information "at this stage". The fire service said two fire engines attended the scene at 19:25 BST and made the aircraft safe. Spitfire MJ627 first entered service on 25 September 1944 and, just two days later, destroyed Messerschmitt Me 109 over Arnhem. It was previously involved in an emergency landing in 1998, when its pilot made a "wheels up landing" at Coventry Airport. Last year, the cockpit canopy detached from the plane during take-off from Biggin Hill Airport. It was able to land safely and neither of the two occupants in that incident were harmed. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Restored 1930s plane to be displayed in cathedral Charity reunites WW2 bible with airman's family Kent Fire & Rescue Service
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Spitfire crashes in Kent field hours before VE Day celebrations and fly-past
A historic Spitfire was seen circling "for a couple of minutes" in West Hythe, Kent, at 7pm on Saturday evening before performing an emergency crash landing A horrified eyewitness has recalled the terrifying moment a Spitfire crashed into a farmer's field just hours before VE Day celebrations. A historic Spitfire was seen circling "for a couple of minutes" in West Hythe, Kent, at 7pm on Saturday before performing an emergency crash landing. Eyewitness Emily was on her way home in the car when she saw the Spitfire in the air "for a couple of minutes" before it crashed. The pilot and passenger miraculously walked away unscathed. The eyewitness, who did not want to give her last name, told KentOnline: 'We were on our way home from shopping and saw another Spitfire circling. 'Which we thought was unusual so thought perhaps they're practising for a VE-Day ceremony. 'We watched that Spitfire for a couple of minutes and it flew off. So we continued driving, and came across the plane which had just crashed. The pilot and passenger were luckily out of the aircraft. 'Bystanders were walking across the field. So we pulled up and then walked across the field ourselves to check everyone was okay. 'We contacted the farmer to make them aware and to get the gate opened.' A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed they were called to the scene following the crash. It said: "We were called to an aircraft that had made an emergency landing. 'Two fire engines attended, and crews helped to make the scene safe. One person was passed into the care of SECAmb paramedics.' Crews left the scene at around 9pm. The company that owns the Spitfire confirmed the pilot made a "precautionary landing." A spokesperson for Fly a Spitfire added: 'We are aware of an incident involving one of our Spitfire aircraft in the vicinity of Hythe. 'We have spoken to the pilot who has advised 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.' The Spitfire was built in 1943 and used in the Royal Canadian Air Force's 441 Squadron, operating under the RAF during World War II. It comes as Britain will commemorate VE Day 's momentous 80th anniversary with a display of characteristic pageantry next week, with Red Arrows set to arc across the skies. Events will honour the dead; those who gave their lives in World War Two to defeat fascism. But they will also remind us, as a group of veterans has poignantly conveyed, that 'to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again'. Bank Holiday Monday will see a procession of over 1,300 Armed Forces, uniformed services and young people march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. In the sky above, the procession will finish with a flypast featuring aircraft including the celebrated Red Arrows.
