Aircraft Reportedly Flipped Over While Attempting An Emergency Landing

A 1944 Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe, MK356, participating in a Saturday afternoon airshow demonstration reportedly went down just after takeoff from RAF Coningsby, after experiencing an engine failure. 

The famous WWII-era plane belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight program based at RAF Coningsby, according to the RAF. 

The aircraft reportedly flipped over while attempting an emergency landing, killing the RAF pilot, who volunteered for this duty. Britain's MoD reported that, "It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today. "The pilot's family has been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this time."

Local Lincolnshire Police spokespersons also added that, "We are sad to confirm that a man has died after a plane crashed into a field on Langrick Road in Coningsby earlier today. The man was the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft. Police are not in a position to confirm his name but his next of kin have been informed. Nobody else is thought to have been injured as a result. 

The incident was called into police just before 1.20pm today (Saturday, May 25) and emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene. Sadly, the injuries the pilot sustained were not survivable and he was declared deceased at the scene."

The RAF has identified the pilot who died in the Spitfire crash as Squadron Leader Mark Long describing him as “a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator.” His full-time role with the RAF was as a front-line Eurofighter Typhoon pilot and, like all BBMF pilots, volunteered for the BBMF in addition to his normal duties.

RAF Coningsby is the home of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). BBMF operates six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft used for training -- which are all flown by regular RAF aircrews.

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-britain-memorial-flight/