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Sywell Aerodrome: Vintage plane crashes after spiralling out of control

The pilot was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital

A replica of a World War One plane has crashed after spiralling out of control while practising for a display above an airfield.

The crash happened at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, at about 11:50 BST.

The pilot was treated at the scene and then taken to University Hospital Coventry where he is being treated for his injuries.

Witness David Perkins said he was "shocked" to see one of the planes "spiral downward".

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is investigating.

Chris/Geograph Sywell AerodromeChris/Geograph
The crash happened at Sywell Aerodrome

The plane, a replica of a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c which featured in the film Biggles Sweeps the Skies, is part of the Bremont Great War Display Team.

Team leader Gordon Brander confirmed the pilot was not badly injured.

"He suffered no serious injury, only a couple of cuts and bruises and cracked ribs," said Mr Brander.

"Nobody is sure how the crash happened. These aeroplanes are very primitive and very fragile."

He said they were practising for a display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire.

David Perkins The plane spiralling to the groundDavid Perkins
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch have sent a team to Sywell Aerodrome

Mr Brander praised the emergency services as "outstanding".

Mr Perkins, who works as a mechanic at a garage on the Sywell site, said: "I just went out the back to have a quick break and saw the planes practising for an event.

"I was shocked to see one plane do a turn and then it went into downward spiral. It was quite surreal. The pilot seems to have had a very lucky escape."