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UKIP's Farage hurt in plane crash UKIP's Farage hurt in plane crash
(about 1 hour later)
The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage has been injured in a plane crash in Northamptonshire.The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage has been injured in a plane crash in Northamptonshire.
The plane came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley.The plane came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley.
Mr Farage is being treated for two broken ribs and minor injuries at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The pilot is at University Hospital in Coventry. Mr Farag, who being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for broken ribs and minor injuries, said he was "lucky to be alive".
The aircraft came down an hour after polling stations opened for election voting and it is thought the crash was caused by a trailing UKIP banner. The aircraft came down an hour after polling stations opened and it is thought the crash was caused by a trailing UKIP banner.
'Trapped in wreckage''Trapped in wreckage'
Party leader Lord Pearson said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital.
He said: "Despite being in considerable pain, we deduce that Nigel is back to something like his normal form.
"We also understand that the injuries to the pilot, Justin Adams, may be less serious than previously feared though we have been unable to speak to his family.
"It is clear that both men had a remarkably lucky escape."
A spokesperson for UKIP said "it was unlikely Mr Farage would be discharged from hospital today".A spokesperson for UKIP said "it was unlikely Mr Farage would be discharged from hospital today".
He said: "He (Mr Farage) suffered facial cuts and bruises and injuries to his chest and there might be some damage to his ribs. He added: "He (Mr Farage) suffered facial cuts and bruises and injuries to his chest and there might be some damage to his ribs."
"I doubt he's going to be there for the (election) results."
A consultant at the hospital is reported to have told a UKIP press officer that Mr Farage may also have suffered a chip to his spine.A consultant at the hospital is reported to have told a UKIP press officer that Mr Farage may also have suffered a chip to his spine.
Chris Adams, UKIP parliamentary candidate for Aylesbury, earlier said Mr Farage had been "in and out of consciousness" and had been X-rayed but the press officer later said they had been told he was conscious throughout the crash and rescue.Chris Adams, UKIP parliamentary candidate for Aylesbury, earlier said Mr Farage had been "in and out of consciousness" and had been X-rayed but the press officer later said they had been told he was conscious throughout the crash and rescue.
We've had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up, or there were cross-winds and it was an unfamiliar airfield to the pilot UKIP spokesman General election voting under wayWe've had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up, or there were cross-winds and it was an unfamiliar airfield to the pilot UKIP spokesman General election voting under way
The pilot, who was trapped in the wreckage and had to be airlifted to hospital, is believed to be the more seriously injured of the two.
The aircraft was due to circle over Buckingham, where Mr Farage is standing as a candidate, trailing a banner, a UKIP spokesman said.The aircraft was due to circle over Buckingham, where Mr Farage is standing as a candidate, trailing a banner, a UKIP spokesman said.
Mike Jose, Mr Farage's assistant, said they had previously flown the plane and banner over the constituency without any problems.Mike Jose, Mr Farage's assistant, said they had previously flown the plane and banner over the constituency without any problems.
Mr Farage and the pilot were lucky to escape serious injury, police said. Surveying the mangled metal of the aircraft, Det Ch Insp Martin Kinchin, of Northamptonshire Police, said: "I think you can make your own judgment as to how lucky they were.
Surveying the mangled metal of the aircraft, Det Ch Insp Martin Kinchin, of Northamptonshire Police, said: "Looking at the wreckage behind me, I think you can make your own judgment as to how lucky they were.
"The people inside the plane were lucky to come out with not very serious injuries.""The people inside the plane were lucky to come out with not very serious injuries."
The plane had been preparing to land on the concrete runway when it crashed, officers believe.
White bannerWhite banner
Describing how the crash happened, he said: "It is our belief that the plane had recently taken off from here and was manoeuvring back to the airfield."Describing how the crash happened, he said: "It is our belief that the plane had recently taken off from here and was manoeuvring back to the airfield."
When asked if the UKIP banner had become tangled in the aircraft, causing the crash, he said it was too early to speculate.When asked if the UKIP banner had become tangled in the aircraft, causing the crash, he said it was too early to speculate.
The white banner, which landed several hundred metres from the plane, had been attached to it previously, he confirmed.The white banner, which landed several hundred metres from the plane, had been attached to it previously, he confirmed.
The engine landed a short distance from the body of the plane. A UKIP spokesman said the pair were trapped in the plane hanging upside down after the crash, but were "talking, conscious and breathing" during the rescue operation.
Mr Adams, who is also Mr Farage's campaign manager, said: "Apparently the plane nose-dived. We had a banner attached to the back of the plane which basically got wrapped around the tail.
"The pilot had sent out a May Day signal and it basically crash dived. It's all a bit of a shock, especially on polling day."
The airfield has now been closed and the crash is due to be investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch, Northamptonshire Police said.The airfield has now been closed and the crash is due to be investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch, Northamptonshire Police said.
East Midlands Ambulance Service and fire crews remain at the scene. The aircraft, a PZL-104 Wilga 35A, is a Polish fixed-wing aircraft which is reportedly owned by Sky Banners, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
Mr Farage is a Member of the European Parliament, representing South East England.Mr Farage is a Member of the European Parliament, representing South East England.