Spitfire pilot walks away from emergency landing in field

Updated

A Spitfire pilot has walked away without serious injury after making an emergency landing in a field.

Fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene in Woodchurch, near Ashford, Kent, at 10am after receiving a report that the vintage aircraft had come down.

The pilot had already managed to get out of the plane by the time the emergency services arrived at the scene.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokeswoman said that an air ambulance, ambulance and heart unit were scrambled and the pilot was treated at the scene but did not need to be taken to hospital.

She said: "A number of resources were sent to the scene but thankfully the pilot was not seriously injured. He only suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene and was not taken to hospital."

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said that there were no further casualties and officers were making sure the area was safe by dealing with a leak of aviation fuel.

He said: "Emergency services were called to an incident involving a Spitfire plane, following an emergency landing in a field in Woodchurch, near Ashford.

"The pilot was already out of the plane when fire crews arrived. He was assessed by paramedics at the scene.

"Firefighters remain in attendance making the scene safe and are dealing with a leak of a large quantity of aviation fuel.

"There are no further casualties and the cause of the crash is not yet known."

Witness Liz King posted on Twitter: "Plane down Woodchurch, Ashford pilot OK" and added "looks repairable".

Ms King, who lives nearby, told KentOnline: "We didn't see it land but we heard it. We first heard it flying overhead. It then stuttered and cut out. We then heard a whoosh sound.

"It looks like the pilot landed it pretty well."

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