A World War II-era plane has crashed into a field.
LONDON. A pilot of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was killed in the crash of a historic Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane in the east of England on Saturday. The plane belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Squadron (BBMF), the authorities informed, writes the AFP agency.
The World War II-era plane crashed into a field near the RAF base near Coningsby, Lincolnshire shortly after 1pm local time (2pm CET). The police and emergency services arrived at the scene of the accident and declared the unnamed pilot dead.
“It is with great sadness that we have to confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident today near RAF Coningsby. The pilot’s family have been informed and we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time,” the Ministry of Defense said.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, the case is under investigation. No one on the ground was injured. The British Prime Minister honored the memory of the pilot Rishi Sunakopposition leader Keir Starmer or the Prince and Princess of Wales (William and Catherine).
RAF Coningsby, approximately 230 kilometers north of London, is home to modern fighter aircraft as well as a BBMF squadron. It is a collection of historic World War II fighter and bomber aircraft that participate in airshows and commemorations.
Several of them were to perform a flight demonstration on Saturday at the nearby Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Center, the AP news agency reminds.
Currently, there are only a few dozen Supermarine Spitfire type airplanes in flight, while the BBMF squadron had six examples until Saturday.
In the 1930s and 1940s, more than 20,000 of them were produced. This maneuverable aircraft played a key role in the defense of the United Kingdom against attacks by the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain (July-October 1940).