This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/8664260.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| UKIP's Farage hurt in plane crash | UKIP's Farage hurt in plane crash |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said he was "lucky to be alive" after his plane crashed in Northamptonshire. | |
| The aircraft came down at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield near Brackley. | |
| Mr Farage is being treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for broken ribs and other minor injuries. Pilot, Justin Adams, is also in hospital. | |
| It is thought the aircraft came down when a trailing campaign banner became entangled. | |
| 'Trapped in wreckage' | 'Trapped in wreckage' |
| Party leader Lord Pearson said Mr Farage had been visited by his wife in hospital. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 added: "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." |
| 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 way | 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 way |
| 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. |
| 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: "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." |
| White banner | White 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |