Pilot in his 50s is killed when light aircraft crashes in field near small private airstrip
- A male pilot aged in his 50s has died after a light aircraft crash, police confirmed
- The incident happened shortly before 12pm today at Belchamp Walter
- Eight fire engines and an air ambulance rushed to border of Essex and Suffolk
A male pilot aged in his 50s has been killed after a light aircraft crashed in a field.
Emergency services were called shortly before 12pm today to ‘reports of a light aircraft in distress’ at Belchamp Walter, on the Suffolk border.
Eight fire engines were dispatched to the scene as well as an air ambulance and several paramedics.
A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told Essex Live he saw an aircraft ‘crash into the field’.
An officer stands over what appears to be the plane wreckage at the scene of the crash
Police set up a cordon in the village of Belchamp Walter, where a pilot has been killed
‘I saw an aircraft of some sort crash into the field. I’m not sure if it was a micro blade or a light aircraft,’ he explained.
Another witness added: ‘We were driving back from Sudbury and saw fumes and smoke.’
A dog walker added: ‘We were driving back from Sudbury and saw fumes and smoke. We thought that’s a big bonfire. Then we heard about the crash.’
Essex Police said in a statement: ‘We were called to reports of a light aircraft in distress at Belchamp Walter just before 11.50am on February 3.
‘Officers attended and, sadly, a man aged in his 50s was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.
Pictured: Police at the scene today. Officers have informed the man’s next of kin of his death
The incident happened shortly before 12pm today and eight fire engines have been called to the site as well as several police officers
The crash site is thought to be located in a field to the rear of the Belchamp Walter Village Hall, off North Road, which has been cordoned off by police
‘We will be maintaining a presence at the scene over the coming days to assist the Air Accidents Investigation Branch in their enquiries.’
It is understood there is a small private landing strip close to the area of the incident, just three miles west of Sudbury, Suffolk.
The crash site is thought to be located in a field to the rear of the Belchamp Walter Village Hall, off North Road, which has been cordoned off by police.
It is understood there is a small private landing strip close to the area of the incident. Pictured is an officer at the scene today
Essex Police have described the on-going event in Belchamp Walter, near Sudbury on the Essex-Suffolk border as ‘serious’. Police pictured setting up a cordon in the area
It is believed that police will be maintaining a presence in the hall and using it as an incident room to coordinate a response to the crash.
An air ambulance was dispatched to the scene as well as ‘several’ ambulance crews from East of England Ambulance Service.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said they sent five fire engines to the scene while another three have been sent from the Suffolk brigade.
Police at the scene of an ‘aircraft incident’ in Belchamp Walter, close to Sudbury on the Suffolk and Essex border