AN investigation is under way after an accident involving a small plane outside Ballynahinch on Sunday. Its pilot had a miraculous escape, walking away without any serious injuries, after the light aircraft came down in a field off the Saintfield Road. The aircraft was on fire, but the flames were extinguished prior to the arrival of emergency services. Images circulating on social media have shown the aircraft, which is believed to be a scaled replica of a P51 Mustang, a long-range United States-made fighter well known during WW2, with its nose buried into the ground.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed that it has initiated an investigation and that enquiries are being made to understand the circumstances which led to the accident. A large-scale operation was launched as soon as the alarm was raised, at around 2.50pm. The Fire and Rescue Service, paramedics and police rushed to the scene, with a PSNI spokeswoman confirming, just a few hours later, that the pilot had not sustained any serious injuries.
On Monday, a spokeswoman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “Yesterday (10 May) the AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred close to the Saintfield Road, just outside of Ballynahinch, County Down. An investigation has commenced and enquiries are being made to understand the circumstances which led to the accident.”
A spokesperson for NIFRS said two crews from Ballynahinch responded to the incident. “Firefighters were called to reports of an aircraft on fire in a field at Saintfield Road, Ballynahinch. Prior to NIFRS arrival, the fire was extinguished and one casualty was out of the aircraft.” They added that firefighters assisted with first aid on the casualty and then transferred them to the care of the NI Ambulance Service. It was also confirmed that firefighters “isolated the fuel supply and handed the scene over to the PSNI.” They left the accident scene at 4.36pm.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said a number of resources were deployed to the incident, adding that after the pilot was spoken to at the scene, it was found to be not necessary to take them to hospital. Local councillor David Lee-Surginor said he was “incredibly relieved that there was no loss of life.” He added: “I want to extend my deepest thanks to the emergency services who were on the scene for their swift and professional response. I am incredibly relieved there was no loss of life, and my thoughts are with those involved as they recover from the shock of this incident.”
