Officials announced that a pilot from the British Royal Air Force was killed when a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain memorial fleet crashed in a field in eastern England on May 25.
The World War II-era aircraft went down shortly after 1 pm near the British RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire. Emergency services responded promptly to the crash site, where the male pilot, whose name has not been disclosed, was pronounced dead.
A spokesperson from the British Ministry of Defence expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby.
The family of the pilot has been notified, and we request that their privacy be respected during this challenging time.”
Local authorities noted that the aircraft was a single-seater and that no other individuals were implicated in the accident. An investigation into the crash is forthcoming.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed his condolences through a post on social media platform X, extending his thoughts to the family and friends of the deceased.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer also expressed his deep sadness regarding the tragic news.
RAF Coningsby hosts the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which includes a fleet of historic fighter and bomber planes used in air shows and commemorative events. Among these, six airworthy Spitfires are based at RAF Coningsby.
