Pilot killed in Shobdon Airfield crash - what we know so far

Here is what we know so far.

When and where did it happen?

West Mercia Police said a man in his 50s has been killed after a light aircraft crash at Shobdon Airfield, near Leominster, on Friday morning.
Emergency services attended the scene after receiving a call at just after 10am on Friday morning. Officers from West Mercia Police, and a fire crews from Kingsland, Leominster, and the Wyre Forest attended the scene.

A paramedic officer, and land and air ambulance crews were called to the crash, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

What did the emergency services say?

A statement from West Mercia Police said: 

"A man in his fifties has sadly died following a plane crash at Shobdon Airfield, Leominster, Herefordshire, today.

"The single engine, fixed wing light aircraft came down at around 10am today (Friday 26 August).

"No one else was on board, there were no other injuries and no other aircraft was involved.

"The Air Accidents Investigation Branch will be investigating the cause of the crash."

The police said an investigation has begun and a team of inspectors are on their way to the accident site to begin gathering evidence.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service also put out a statement.

It said the service was called to the incident at 10.07am and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered a fixed wing light aircraft that had come down at the airfield.

“There was one male patient still within the aircraft.

"Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Shobdon Airfield remains closed

Police have said the airfield will remain closed while forensics and the Air Accidents Investigation branch investigate the causes of the crash.

Road in the immediate vicinity of the airfield are closed to the public and Police are telling people to avoid the area.

The lane to Shobdon Airfield closed to traffic after the crash this morning. Picture: Michael Eden

Witnesses  tell of 'black smoke'

Witnesses near the crash scene have told on social media of hearing the noise of a plane's engine when "suddenly the noise stopped and there was a cloud of black smoke".