After a 1930s plane ‘nose-dived’ into the ground at an airshow this morning, passengers were escorted to safety.
The biplane, which was carrying eight passengers and a pilot during World War II, was seen virtually vertical shortly after the accident.
The plane, a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, ‘nose-dived or the front tire failed on landing,’ according to one witness.
After the incident, which occurred during a July airshow at Duxford Imperial War Museum near Cambridge, firefighters were spotted standing next to the plane.
The aircraft did not nose dive into the ground, but pitched forward while on the ground, according to IWM Duxford, and no one was harmed.
Paul Hodson, who photographed the aftermath of the crash, said there was a ‘strong gust of wind’ when it happened.
The plane in question was a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, which was first produced in 1934 and is primarily made of plywood for short-haul flights.
It played a minor role in WWII, when it was used to transport aerial couriers between the United Kingdom and France. Although, later on, a military-oriented version was produced.
‘It seems like a plane has landed nose first, the end of it is in the air, two fire engines, presumably from the air field, and a crane,’ an eyewitness told CambridgeshireLive.
When contacted for comment, IWM Duxford stated that the incident was small and that everyone was safe.
‘This morning, there was a little incident with an aircraft at IWM Duxford,’ said a representative for the museum. There were no injuries, the incident was completely investigated, and the flying program for today’s event will go as planned.’
The incident’s particular circumstances, including how and why it occurred, have not been published.
The Duxford Air Show is on this weekend and will continue until 6 p.m. tonight.
The show managed to sell all of its tickets and its programme offers packed full of exciting spectacles for visitors including some very exciting flying action, showground entertainment with traders, Battle of Britain exhibitions, a vast number of displayed aircraft and so much more.