Man with life-threatening injuries after plane crashes into woods in East London

Firefighters were called to a collision involving an aircraft near Aveley Road in Upminster. Station Commander Jeremy Davies, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked with partners to release a man and a woman trapped inside a lightweight aircraft in woodland near the aerodrome. "They were both taken to hospital by road and air ambulance crews." The Brigade was called at 1209 and the incident was over by 1340. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Hornchurch, Wennington, East Ham, Dagenham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
Fire crews at the scene of the crash in east London Credit: London Fire Brigade

A man has been taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after a light aircraft crashed in woodland in east London.

Emergency services, including 40 firefighters, were called to the scene near Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Aveley Road in Upminster at 12.06pm on Tuesday.

Despite an initial report of no serious injuries, police confirmed the man had been taken to hospital with “potentially life-changing or life-threatening injuries”. A woman was also taken to hospital.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called today (Tuesday April 4) at 12.06pm to reports of an incident at the aerodrome in Aveley Road, Upminster.

“We sent numerous resources to the scene including three ambulances, a medic in a response car, two incident response officers and members of our hazardous area response team (HART). We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

“We treated a man and woman at the scene and took them to hospital.”

Air ambulance at the scene in East London Credit: London Ambulance Service

London Fire Brigade station commander Jeremy Davies, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked with partners to release a man and a woman trapped inside a lightweight aircraft in woodland near the aerodrome.

“They were both taken to hospital by road and air ambulance crews.

“Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Hornchurch, Wennington, East Ham, Dagenham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.”

In a tweet, the Metropolitan Police Service’s MPS Havering account said: “We, @LondonFire and @Ldn_Ambulance attended. A man & a woman were found.

“Despite initial reports of no serious injuries, the man has been taken to hospital with potentially life-changing or life threatening injuries.”

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it had sent a team to the site of the crash.

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