Pilot and passenger are saved by their plane’s emergency parachute and plucked alive from the water after crashing into the sea near Southampton
- Coastguard said pair escaped plane and were saved from sea by nearby boat at Calshot Spit, Southampton
- Footage shows a deployed parachute attached to the back of the aircraft slowly dragging it towards shore
- Emergency responders surround the plane in the water, with one heard telling onlookers to ‘clear the beach’
Advertisement
A pilot and a passenger had to be rescued by the Coastguard after their light aircraft crashed into the sea in Southampton earlier today.
The coastguard said the pair – who had been onboard the aircraft – were rescued from the water by a nearby vessel at Calshot Spit at 2.43pm this afternoon.
A large parachute could be seen attached to the back of the wreckage, suggesting it was deployed when the aircraft got into trouble.
Two people had to be rescued by the coastguard after their aircraft (pictured) crashed into the sea in Southampton
The plane could be seen on the shore in Southampton. It lay belly-up and appeared to be washed up
An emergency responder can be heard telling onlookers to ‘clear the beach’ in video of the aftermath
An emergency responder can be heard telling onlookers to ‘clear the beach’ in footage of the aftermath.
Retired Christine Hayball, 70, was on the beach at Calshot with her family when she spotted the aircraft ‘flying low like a stunt plane’.
She added: ‘Then there was a big bang, the parachute came out and the plane fell like a stone.
‘We had binoculars and once it hit the water we saw the pilot open the cockpit door and climb out so we knew they were ok. Then a little private boat picked them up.’
An emergency responder can be heard telling onlookers to ‘clear the beach’ in footage
The two individuals rescued have been ‘declared well’ by South Central Ambulance service.
In a statement on Sunday the Coastguard said: ‘At 2.43pm this afternoon, HM Coastguard received numerous reports that a light aircraft had ditched into the water off Calshot Spit on the Solent.
‘It was confirmed two people were on-board the aircraft. Both people were able to climb out of the aircraft after it came down and were then rescued by a nearby vessel.
‘Hamble independent lifeboat escorted both casualties to Hamble Lifeboat Station. Neither person required medical assistance and both were declared well by the South Central Ambulance Service. They also made contact with Hampshire Police at the lifeboat station.
‘The aircraft is now beached at Calshot and Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team are securing it. The Air Accident Investigation Branch have been informed.
‘Any possible pollution damage will be assessed and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Duty Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer has been informed.’