A Spitfire crash-landed in a field yesterday and the pilot walked away with only minor injuries.
The legendary wartime fighter came down in Woodchurch on the outskirts of Ashford, Kent.
The plane appeared to escape serious damage during the 10am drama and the pilot had already climbed from the cockpit by the time emergency services arrived.
He was treated at the scene for minor injuries and firecrews dealt with a leak of aviation fuel.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “Emergency services were called to an incident involving a Spitfire plane, following an emergency landing in a field in Woodchurch, near Ashford.
“The pilot was already out of the plane when fire crews arrived.”
There are thought to be around 35 airworthy working Spitfires in the world. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
Liz King, who lives close by, heard the plane flying before the emergency landing.
She said: “We didn’t see it land but we heard it.
“We first heard it flying overhead. It then stuttered and cut out. We then heard a whoosh sound.
“It looks like the pilot landed it pretty well.”
The pilot who skilfully crash-landed the Spitfire cheated death four years ago during a mid-air crash in front of thousands of spectators at a show.
Rob Davies, 68, MBE, has his own collection of historic aircraft and is a well-known face at flying displays.
He said: “I’m fine, it was a very simple engine failure, I walked away unscathed.”
In 2001 he dramatically bailed out of a Second World War Mustang in mid-air after an airshow collision.
His plane clipped wings with another Mustang at the annual Flying Legends Airshow in Duxford, Cambs and he parachuted to safety from just 250ft.
Mr. Davies, a former RAF mechanic, was flying near his own landing strip at Woodchurch when the Spitfire suffered engine failure shortly after take-off.
