Light aircraft ditches into sea at Kent airshow

There's been high praise today for the skills of pilot Colin Randall who ditched his plane into the sea at the Herne Bay Airshow - avoiding both spectators and swimmers.

Praise too for the spectators who waded in, to help the 71-year-old pilot - who was face-down in the water.

It follows a tightening of flying display regulations after the Shoreham Airshow crash that killed 11 people nearly a year ago.

You can watch a full report by Abigail Bracken by clicking on the link below.

Interviewees are rescuer Davina Cox; eyewitness Nigel Hancock; and Herne Bay Airshow organiser Liz Crudgington.

Pictures and video are courtesy of Emma Bedding, Bruno Tilley and Nigel Hancock.

Emma Bedding witnessed the plane coming down into the water. She says it made a lot of noise before flipping over. The pilot only suffered minor injuries.

This is the moment a pilot crash lands his plane into the sea in front of thousands of spectators at the Herne Bay airshow.

It was caught on camera by Daniel Crampmoor.

Thankfully the pilot escaped with minor injuries.

A light aircraft has plummeted into the sea in front of thousands of spectators at the Herne Bay airshow.

The single-seater plane went into the water at around 3.30pm, just an hour after the Red Arrows had given a spectacular display.

Witnesses rushed onto the beach to help pull the plane from the water.

Miraculously, the pilot did not suffer any serious injuries.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene and the aircraft has since been recovered.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.