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Humberside Airport emergency landing pilot dies | Humberside Airport emergency landing pilot dies |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A pilot who fell ill at the controls of his plane forcing his passenger to land the light aircraft has died, police have said. | A pilot who fell ill at the controls of his plane forcing his passenger to land the light aircraft has died, police have said. |
The man collapsed in the cockpit of the plane after taking off, leaving the "inexperienced" passenger to make an emergency landing. | The man collapsed in the cockpit of the plane after taking off, leaving the "inexperienced" passenger to make an emergency landing. |
The plane landed at Humberside Airport under the guidance of instructors called in by air traffic controllers. | The plane landed at Humberside Airport under the guidance of instructors called in by air traffic controllers. |
Police said they were unable to confirm the cause of death. | Police said they were unable to confirm the cause of death. |
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "The pilot of the plane sadly died last night. | A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "The pilot of the plane sadly died last night. |
"We are not treating it as suspicious and we are in a position whereby formal identification will take place later today." | "We are not treating it as suspicious and we are in a position whereby formal identification will take place later today." |
He added that a file would be prepared for the coroner. | He added that a file would be prepared for the coroner. |
Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the North Lincolnshire airport after a distress call was made from the light aircraft. | Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the North Lincolnshire airport after a distress call was made from the light aircraft. |
Eyewitness saw sparks | |
Two flying instructors were called in to advise the passenger how to bring the plane down. | Two flying instructors were called in to advise the passenger how to bring the plane down. |
One of them, Roy Murray, said: "I think without any sort of talk-down he would have just gone into the ground and that would have been the end of it." | One of them, Roy Murray, said: "I think without any sort of talk-down he would have just gone into the ground and that would have been the end of it." |
The passenger and pilot were the only people on board the aircraft, which had taken off from Sandtoft Airfield 25 miles (40km) away. | The passenger and pilot were the only people on board the aircraft, which had taken off from Sandtoft Airfield 25 miles (40km) away. |
It is believed the two men had flown to Skegness and were returning to Sandtoft when the pilot collapsed. | |
Eyewitnesses described seeing sparks as the plane landed at about 19:50 BST on Tuesday. | Eyewitnesses described seeing sparks as the plane landed at about 19:50 BST on Tuesday. |
Stuart Sykes said he saw the aircraft land: "It came down with a bump, a bump, a bump, hit the front end down, I heard some crashing and it's come to a halt." | Stuart Sykes said he saw the aircraft land: "It came down with a bump, a bump, a bump, hit the front end down, I heard some crashing and it's come to a halt." |
Two incoming flights were delayed while the aircraft was removed from the runway. | Two incoming flights were delayed while the aircraft was removed from the runway. |
Richard Tomlinson, a friend of the pilot and his passenger, told BBC Radio Sheffield the passenger was "nothing short of a hero". | |
He said "For somebody who is not a pilot but has been around airfields and been a passenger on several occasions to take control is nothing short of phenomenal. | |
"The man is nothing short of a hero." | |
Mr Tomlinson, himself an amateur pilot, said of the man who died: "He was a very experienced pilot. | |
"He had been flying for many years. | |
"Only this week I was sat having a cup of tea and airfield banter [with both men]. | |
"They were both very funny gentlemen to have a conversation with. | |
"It is very, very sad news." |