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Nine injured in Kent plane crash | Nine injured in Kent plane crash |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two people were seriously injured and seven more treated at the scene when a light aircraft crashed in Kent. | |
Firefighters attended Headcorn Aerodrome at 1604 GMT on Sunday after reports that the aircraft had hit a static display plane. | |
The plane was carrying eight parachutists when it reportedly crashed during an aborted take-off. | |
Kent Ambulance Service said the pilot suffered severe head injuries and his co-pilot suffered chest injuries. | |
One female passenger was later transferred to hospital after suffering a severe asthma attack, rescuers said. | One female passenger was later transferred to hospital after suffering a severe asthma attack, rescuers said. |
Aborted take-off | |
The pilot, a man in his 20s, was cut free from the cockpit by rescuers before being flown by air ambulance to Royal London Hospital for emergency treatment. | |
His co-pilot and female passenger were taken by ambulance to Maidstone General. | |
Headcorn Parachute Cluib manager Jane Buckle said: "The pilot decided to abort take-off and he didn't stop in time and he crashed. | |
"We're all pretty upset about this happening. It's people we know. It's our aeroplane." | |
She confirmed that the De Havilland Turbo Beaver was carrying eight members of the club when it crashed at the end of the runway. | |
It hit a static display aircraft which forms part of an aircraft museum at the site. | |
She added that the pilot was a full-time pilot employed by the club. | |
Aircraft museum | |
A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Police are preserving the scene to allow the Air Accident Investigation Branch to conduct their inquiries." | |
Headcorn Aerodrome is situated around 20 minutes by road from Ashford and has two runways. | |
It was founded in 1927 by Mark Freeman and used for private flying until 1942, when it was requisitioned as an advanced landing ground by the American and Canadian Air forces. | It was founded in 1927 by Mark Freeman and used for private flying until 1942, when it was requisitioned as an advanced landing ground by the American and Canadian Air forces. |
When the war ended in 1945 the Aerodrome was handed back to the Freeman family. | When the war ended in 1945 the Aerodrome was handed back to the Freeman family. |
As well as being home to the parachute club it also offers helicopter and balloon flights, flying lessons and pleasure flights. | |
The Aerodrome also features the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum, providing visitors with an insight into the war years at the airfield with a number of historic exhibits. |