Light Aircraft Crashes into Isle of Wight Holiday Park, Tourists Rescue Two Occupants (Video)

Two people were pulled out of a light aircraft which crashed into a holiday park and burst into flames

Two people were pulled from a light aircraft after it crashed into Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight and burst into flames on Saturday, April 12. The incident occurred around 2:23 p.m., when the plane reportedly banked, clipped a chimney, and crashed near chalets in the busy holiday park, which was filled with Easter visitors.

Witnesses described a sudden shockwave, followed by a loud bang and rising black smoke. One onlooker said, “I felt a shockwave, then heard a loud bang and saw lots of black smoke.”

Scenes of the aftermath caused by the plane crash in Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in Bembridge, Isle of Wight

Inspector Alex Dale of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said that bystanders immediately rushed to the wreckage to pull the two occupants from the aircraft moments before it was engulfed in flames. “The people who rescued the pilots were heroic, without question,” he said. “There were two people in the plane who needed help, without regard to their own personal safety. They were very brave. It was a wonderful thing to do. Their actions undoubtedly saved their lives.”

Emergency services responded promptly, with police, fire, and ambulance personnel attending the scene. Authorities confirmed the plane had two people on board, and that one person sustained only minor injuries. The holiday park remained open following the incident.

The pilot and co-pilot were rescued before the plane burst into flames

James Lowe, a sales manager from Horsham in Sussex, was among the witnesses. He had been at the park for a rugby tour and recalled, “We were outside the restaurant at the top of the holiday park watching our kids playing archery. This plane came over our heads and the engine cut out. They then turned back to the airport but lost a lot of altitude and we could see it was going to crash into the holiday park. Myself and another dad ran to help. Thank goodness the pilot and passenger had been pulled to safety.”

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has been notified and will conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.