D31 Turbulent Pilot Rescued By Spectators

The pilot of a D31 Turbulent open-cockpit airplane was rescued by spectators attending the Herne Bay Air Show in Kent, England after the plane went down in shallow water at the beach and flipped over onto its back.

The accident, which the Turbulent Team described as a controlled ditching, occurred Sunday at about 1530 local time. The U.K. newspaper The Telegraph reports that several people dashed into the water and quickly righted the small blue airplane and pulled the pilot from the aircraft.

One witness said that the engine sounded "very thick and unhappy" just before the accident. The wheels of the plane dug into the water and flipped the airplane over onto its back, putting the pilot under water. The pilot's face was "pretty smashed up and bloody," according to the witness.

In a message posted on Twitter, the Turbulent Team said "We are pleased to confirm our pilot is safe and the aircraft intact after a decision to ditch in the sea @baypromoteam due to a problem."

The air show was suspended following the accident.

(Image from video posted to YouTube by user DIYGrandad)

FMI: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/air-accidents-investigation-branch