08/10 (20:38) PILOTS SURVIVE MID-AIR CRASH
By Paul Smith, PA News
Two pilots were injured after a light aircraft attempting to land on an airfield on the Isle of Wight crashed into an glider this afternoon.
Hampshire Police said the fixed-wing plane was being used to tow gliders into the air immediately before the incident at Bembridge airfield at 2pm.
After releasing a glider from its tow rope, the plane headed back down to land but collided with another glider which was also in the sky.
The two craft fell to ground half-a-mile apart in fields near the grass airfield.
Firefighters arrived in minutes where they worked to cut the pilot of the light aircraft free from the wreckage. They also sprayed foam round the plane as it began leaking aviation fuel.
He was airlifted to St Mary's hospital by helicopter where his condition was described as comfortable. A hospital spokesman said he was being treated for burns and was expected to be discharged tomorrow.
The glider pilot was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital. He was later discharged with minor injuries.
A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "Both pilots have been very lucky to have escaped. At the moment we have no idea how the two craft collided."
The Air Accident Investigation Branch is expected to carry out an investigation into the incident tomorrow morning.