Tragedy as pilot, in his 60s, is killed in plane crash at former RAF airfield near Corby
A PILOT in his 60s has been killed after a horror plane crash at a former RAF airfield.
Cops and responders from East Midlands Ambulance Service and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service scrambled to Spanhoe airfield near Corby just before 1pm today.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports a light aircraft came down.
The pilot, a man in his 60s, was confirmed to be the only person on the aircraft.
Northamptonshire Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have begun an investigation to establish the circumstances and cause of the incident.
They will both remain at the site while this takes place.
Northamptonshire Police has appealed for anyone with any information to get in touch and call 101.
Please quote incident number 242 of 13/07/24 when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.
A police spokesperson said: “A pilot has sadly died after a light aircraft came down at Spanhoe Airfield, near Laxton, Corby.
“The pilot, a man in his 60s, was the sole occupant of the aircraft.”
An East Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said it received reports of a medical emergency at about 12.44pm.
“We sent two paramedics in solo response cars and a crewed ambulance,” the spokesperson said.
“The air ambulance, police and fire were also on scene. All our resources have since left the scene.”
Formerly known as RAF Spanhoe, the station opened in 1943.
It was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces.
During the war it was used primarily as a transport airfield before being closed in late 1945 when World War 2 ended.
Today, much of the airfield has been returned to agriculture but one runway remains.
The airfield is currently active and houses various privately owned light aircraft.