Pilot dies in plane crash at Imperial War Museum airfield

A pilot has died in a plane crash at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) airfield in Duxford.

The man, aged in his 50s and from the Bedfordshire area, was flying a General Aviation Cirrus SR22.

There were no other people on board the privately owned aircraft when it crashed on Tuesday afternoon at the airfield in Cambridgeshire.

Officials at the museum said the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene despite the "best efforts of medical crews".

An IWM spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

"Cambridgeshire Police have informed next of kin, who attended the scene of the accident yesterday.

"The aircraft was a privately owned General Aviation Cirrus SR22, based at Duxford. There were no other passengers."

The spokesperson also said police have now passed the investigation over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch, who remain on site at Duxford.

Read more on Sky News:
Weather warning as Storm Nelson to bring 70mph winds
Spills of raw sewage into rivers and sea worst on record

An East Of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 1.40pm on Tuesday with reports that an aircraft had crashed at Duxford airfield.

"Two ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, three hazardous area response team vehicles and the Essex And Herts Air Ambulance attended the scene.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of all emergency services involved, a man was pronounced dead at the scene."

On its website, IWM Duxford said it will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday, but is "expecting to reopen to the public on Friday".