Horror moment Spitfire 'practicing flypast for VE Day celebrations' crashes into field

Daily Mail​

04-05-2025

A Spitfire crashed into a farmer's field while reportedly practicing a flypast for a VE Day ceremony.
Fire crews and paramedics were rushed to the scene after the historic aircraft plummeted from the sky and into crops in West Hythe, Kent.
Images from the incident show the warplane lying in a field as onlookers and emergency service personnel gather around it.
An anonymous witness saw the plane after it hit the earth told KentOnline: 'We were on our way home from shopping and saw another Spitfire circling.
'Which we thought was unusual so thought perhaps they're practising for a VE-Day ceremony.'
She went on explain how she had watched the plane for a few minutes while driving before suddenly coming across the crashed aircraft.
The pilot and passenger had luckily made it out of the Spitfire, but bystanders had gathered to take a look at the damage and check to make sure everyone was safe.
'We contacted the farmer to make them aware and to get the gate opened,' she added.
A spokesman for the fire service stated: 'We were called to an aircraft that had made an emergency landing.
'Two fire engines attended, and crews helped to make the scene safe. One person was passed into the care of SECAmb paramedics.'
Emergency crews reportedly left the scene just after 9pm.
The iconic aircraft belonged to Biggin Hill-based Spitfire flight experience company, Fly a Spitfire.
A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of an incident involving one of our Spitfire aircraft in the vicinity of Hythe.
'We have spoken to the pilot who has advised that a precautionary landing was made at a non-airfield site.
'The pilot and passenger are uninjured and at this stage we have no further information.'
According to the local news site, the Spitfire was built in 1943 and entered service with 441 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving with the RAF.
Its first operational sortie was flown on September 25, 1944.