Police, fire crews and ambulances rescued a man trapped in his single-seater plane after a serious air crash in Barton, Salford.
At around 1.05pm on Monday 15 August, the Taylor Monoplane light aircraft was taking off from City Airport Barton when it crashed into trees to the east of the airport’s Control Tower.
The male pilot, 67, suffered a fractured leg and head injuries in the crash.
Eyewitness Genek Imiolek, 47, captured pictures of the light aircraft stuck in trees, with parts of the aircraft’s broken wing clearly visible.
He said: “I live locally so I wanted to find out what all the police and ambulance were up to in my area.
“It was out of this world.”
Genek Imiolek/SalfordOnline.com
Taylor Monoplane stuck in trees – Genek Imiolek/SalfordOnline.com
Fire crews worked to release the trapped pilot from the aircraft.
Greater Manchester Fire live-tweeted the incident.
They say their crews used cutting gear to free the pilot while the Environment Agency managed a fuel leak.
We are at Barton Aerodrome. A light aircraft has crashed into trees. The pilot is trapped, injuries as yet unknown. More as we have it…
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) August 15, 2016
Latest on the crash @city_airport we are cutting the pilot free from the single seater plane @EnvAgency are managing aviation fuel leak
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) August 15, 2016
We are standing by with a covering jet and foam extinguisher as firefighters use cutting gear to free the pilot @NWAmbulance in attendance
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) August 15, 2016
A huge emergency services presence was called to the scene.
Eyewitnesses report seeing 30 police vehicles, five fire engines and the North West Air Ambulance.
City Airport management confirmed the crash on Twitter.
We can confirm that a single seat aircraft has been involved in an accident during takeoff today. The pilot has been taken to hospital.
— CityAirport (Barton) (@city_airport) August 15, 2016
There were no traffic delays on the A57 Liverpool Road and roads remain open around City Airport Barton.
Update: A spokesperson for North West Air Ambulance confirmed that the injured man was taken to Salford Royal hospital in a land ambulance accompanied by a crew member of North West Air Ambulance for ‘continuity of care’.
Sergeant Stuart Jones from GMP’s Salford Borough said: “Police, fire and ambulance crews were quickly on the scene and able to get the man out of the aircraft.
“The man has been taken to hospital and is being treated for his injuries.
“We wish him a speedy recovery.
“Officers will be in the area whilst the clean-up operation takes place.”
Main image: Air Ambulance and Major Incident Team stand-by – crashed plane visible in trees – by Genek Imiolek
