‘Passengers escape’ after 1930s de Havilland Dragon Rapide bi-plane ‘NOSE DIVES’ into the ground at Duxford Air Show
- A 1930s aircraft crash landed on a Cambridgeshire runway at IWM Duxford’s Summer Air Show this morning
- The aircraft was said to have had eight passengers and a pilot onboard, but no one was reported injured
- Emergency services gathered around the de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft and a crane cleared the scene
Passengers made an escape after a 1930s aircraft ‘nose-dived’ into the ground at an airshow this morning
The WW2-era biplane, said to be carrying eight passengers and a pilot, was pictured almost vertical moments after the crash.
One witness said the plane – a de Havilland Dragon Rapide – had either nose-dived or suffered a front wheel failure during landing.
Firefighters were seen next to the plane after the crash, which happened during a summer airshow at Duxford Imperial War Museum near Cambridge.
IWM Duxford said that no one was injured and that the air show, which sees Red Arrows and Lancasters taking to the skies, would continue as planned.
Paul Hodson, who photographed the aftermath of the crash, said there was a ‘strong gust of wind’ when it happened.
Emergency services and a crane dealt with an aircraft that witnesses say crash landed at Duxford Airshow today
The biplane was said to be carrying eight passengers and a pilot at the time of the crash landing (pictured)
The ambulance and fire services attended the scene of the incident (pictured) at IWM Duxford this morning
The aircraft involved was a Dragon Rapide (pictured last year dropping 80,000 poppies during a Remembrance Sunday)
Some damage to the body of the plane, which is mainly constructed out of plywood, was visible after the crash
The emergency services were able to get the 1930s plane back on its wheels
Twitter user Deano said: ‘My dad called me to say! Said it took about 10mins for fire crew to get there.’
While a photographer who was at the show replied: ‘Yeah they weren’t the quickest.’
The aircraft involved was a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, first built in 1934 the plane is made out of a mainly plywood construction for short haul flights.
It had a small role during WWII, when it was useful for aerial couriers between Britain and France. Though a military-orientated version was later developed.
An eyewitness told CambridgeshireLive: ‘It looks 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.’
A variety of classic aircrafts can be seen at the annual Duxford Summer Air Show in Duxford (pictured: A North American AT-6C prepares to take off)
The Spirit of Britain living history group dressed as American Second World War aircrew with TF-51D Mustang ‘Contrary Mary’ at the airshow
Other 1930s de Havilland aircraft have made an appearance at the airshow, like the Tiger Moth (pictured preparing to take off)
When IWM Duxford were contacted for a comment, they said it was only minor and everyone is safe.
A spokesperson for IWM Duxford said: ‘This morning, there was a minor incident with an aircraft at IWM Duxford. No one involved was injured, the incident has been fully dealt with and the flying programme for today’s event will run as planned.’
The specific details of the incident, including how and why it happened, have not been revealed.
The Duxford Air Show has been taking place this weekend and will last until 6pm 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.
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