Damyns Hall plane crash, Upminster: Man with ‘potential life-changing or life-threatening injuries’

A man is in hospital with “potential life-changing or life-threatening” injuries after a plane crash in east London.

A light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off at Damyns Hall aerodrome, near Upminster on Tuesday (April 4).

Police were called at shortly after midday to the incident in Aveley Road, Upminster.

Officers and London Ambulance service attended.

Police initially said that a man and a woman found at the scene did not have “life-changing or life-threatening injuries”.

A Met Police spokesperson said at just after 3pm: “Police were called at approximately 12.17pm on Tuesday April 4 to reports of a light aircraft that crashed shortly after take-off, in the area of Aveley Road Upminster.

“Officers and London Ambulance Service are in attendance. A man and a woman were located. Despite initial reports of no serious injuries, a man has now been taken to hospital with potential life-changing or life threatening injuries.

“Emergency services remain on the scene.”

London Fire Brigade station commander Jeremy Davies, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked with partners to release a man and a woman trapped inside a lightweight aircraft in woodland near the aerodrome. They were both taken to hospital by road and air ambulance crews.”

The brigade was called at 12.09pm and it said the incident was over by 1.40pm.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Hornchurch, Wennington, East Ham, Dagenham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.