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Two injured in light aircraft crash near Braintree

Essex Fire and Rescue Service A red light aircraft upside down. Wheels are sticking up and it has been surrounded by emergency services including paramedics and firefightersEssex Fire and Rescue Service
A man had to be freed from the aircraft, which crashed into a field

Two people have been injured when the light aircraft they were in crashed.

A man in his 80s was trapped in the aircraft and had to be freed by emergency services in the crash at about 13:00 BST on Saturday in Andrewsfield, near Braintree in Essex.

The man and a woman in her 30s, who was also in the aircraft, suffered minor injuries, Essex Police said.

Officers have left the scene and the Air Accident Investigation Branch is now investigating.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said the aircraft was upside down when firefighters arrived.

Incident Commander Scott Meekings said: "There was a real risk of a fire starting due to the engine and fuel, but thankfully this didn't happen."

The aircraft had taken off from Southend, the force said.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service A red light aircraft upside down. Wheels are sticking up and it has been surrounded by emergency services including paramedics and firefightersEssex Fire and Rescue Service
Two people in the aircraft had minor injuries, emergency services said

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) helped to free the man.

Sgt Paul Gosling, who attended the scene, said: "This was an excellent response from all our partner agencies and our officers on the ground.

"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."

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