Light aircraft which crashed into the sea just off Lee-on-the-Solent beach is recovered

A light aircraft which crashed into the sea just off Lee-on-the-Solent beach has now been recovered.

The plane landed in the sea close to the shoreline by Lee-on-Solent Sailing Club in Marine Parade East yesterday afternoon (February 28) and then tipped over onto its roof at around 4.15pm.

Light aircraft being salvaged in Lee-on-the-Solent car park. Picture by Steve Boneplaceholder image
Light aircraft being salvaged in Lee-on-the-Solent car park. Picture by Steve Bone | Steve Bone
A light aircraft crashed at the seafront in Lee-on-the-Solent on Saturday afternoon, emergency services pictured at the scene, Dated 28/02/26.C Credit: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.complaceholder image
A light aircraft crashed at the seafront in Lee-on-the-Solent on Saturday afternoon, emergency services pictured at the scene, Dated 28/02/26.C Credit: Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com | Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com

Firecrews winched it onto the shingle beach, with Hampshire Police monitoring it for safety until it was recovered earlier today (March 1).

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 and was checked by medics.

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.

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