In pictures - Light aircraft crashes onto a beach in Lee-on-the-Solent with pilot having a lucky escape
A recovery operation is underway after a pilot had a lucky escape when their light aircraft crashed onto a beach at Lee-on-the-Solent.
The Coastguard, Air Ambulance, fire service and police rushed to the scene after the plane landed in the sea close to the shoreline by Lee-on-Solent Sailing Club in Marine Parade East and then tipped over onto its roof at around 4.15pm.
The pilot, a man in his 50s from West Sussex, was the only person on board and managed to get himself to shore with only minor injures. The plane was then brought ashore by the fire service and is currently on the shingle.
A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: “HM Coastguard received reports of a light aircraft ditching in the water off Lee-on-the-Solent at around 16:15 today (28 February)
“Hill Head Coastguard Rescue Team, Hamble Lifeboat, a coastguard helicopter, an air ambulance, South Central Ambulance Service, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Hampshire Police were sent.
“The pilot, who was the only person on board, was able to self-recover to the beach and was checked over by the ambulance service.”
A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said crews from Hightown, Fareham and Cosham attended the incident.
They said: “The pilot had exited the plane before our arrival, and firefighters worked to secure the aircraft and winch it from the sea.
“The pilot was assessed by the ambulance service, and the scene was handed over to our colleagues at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary to maintain security of the aircraft until it can be recovered. Our crews returned to their stations shortly after 7pm this evening.”
The AAIB Air Accident Investigation Branch has been notified, with the area close to Solent Airport, Daedalus, and an investigation into how the incident happened will take place.
The owner’s insurers will now work with Gosport Borough Council to remove the aircraft, with the HM Coastguard continuing to monitor the situation.