Southampton plane crash: Two rescued after light aircraft crashes into sea at Calshot Spit

Two people have been rescued after an aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of Southampton.

The plane dropped into the water over Calshot Spit at 2.43pm on Sunday, HM Coastguard said.

Those on board were found by a nearby vessel on the Solent, the coastguard confirmed.

A large parachute was seen at the back of the wreckage as people watched on stunned from the beach.

The coastguard said in a statement following the incident: “At 2.43pm this afternoon, HM Coastguard received numerous reports that a light aircraft had ditched into the water off Calshot Spit on the Solent.

“Two people were onboard the aircraft. Both people were able to climb out of the aircraft after it came down and were then rescued by a nearby vessel.

“Hamble independent lifeboat escorted both casualties to Hamble Lifeboat Station. Neither person required medical assistance and both were declared well by the South Central Ambulance Service.”

South Central Ambulance Service said issued a separate statement saying: “Multiple resources were dispatched by our ambulance control room including ambulance crews, ambulance officers, our Hazardous Area Response Team and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

“Our teams were at the scene working alongside colleagues from partner agencies.

"Two patients were assessed by ambulance staff but did not go to hospital.”