Two injured after light aircraft crashes into field near Braintree
A man in his 80s and a woman in her 30s were freed from the plane
Last updated 17th Sep 2023
Two people have been injured after the light aircraft they were driving crashed into a field just outside Braintree.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to an emergency on Saturday (September 16th) following reports of a crash in Andrewsfield, 5 miles northwest of Braintree.
The aircraft was thought to have taken off from Southend earlier in the day before eventually crashing into a field near the village at around 1pm.
When the rescue service arrived on the scene, they found the red plane upside down with the driver and passenger still inside.
A man in his 80s was trapped in the aircraft and had to be cut free by responding officers, Essex Fire and Rescue Service said.
A number of different services were brought in to free the man from the plane, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics and the Hazardous Area Response Team.
A second passenger - a woman in her 30s - also suffered minor injuries. Both were treated for their wounds, which were not thought to be life-threatening.
After the passengers were removed from the plane, the fire and rescue service left the scene and the Air Accident Investigation Branch is now investigating the incident.
In a statement, Essex Fire and Rescue Service's Incident Commander Scott Meekings said the team had to respond quickly.
"There was a real risk of a fire starting due to the engine and fuel, but thankfully this didn't happen," he said.
Sergeant Paul Gosling from Essex Police commended the speed at which officers were able to free the man from the aircraft.
"This was an excellent response from all our partner agencies and our officers on the ground," he explained.
"Thanks to a co-ordinated multi-agency approach we were able to ensure everyone involved in this incident was able to leave this scene with only minor injuries."