Light aircraft crashes into tree near Overboelare airfield in Belgium, pilot in critical condition
A 70-year-old pilot was critically injured when his light aircraft came down near Overboelare airfield in Geraardsbergen, Belgium, shortly after 2 p.m. on Saturday.
What happened
A small touring plane crashed shortly after 2 p.m. on Saturday near the local airfield in Overboelare, a sub-municipality of Geraardsbergen (Grammont) in East Flanders. The aircraft came down in the Kortelakestraat and ended its trajectory against a tree. Witnesses saw the plane descend rapidly; the impact was severe.
The pilot and the response
The pilot, a 70-year-old man from Geraardsbergen and a member of the local flying club 'Phoenix', was the only person on board. Emergency services arrived quickly and began resuscitation at the scene. He was then transported in critical condition to the hospital in Aalst. No other casualties have been reported.
Investigation
The public prosecutor of East Flanders has confirmed the accident and will appoint an expert to determine the cause of the crash. At this stage, no further details about the circumstances are known.
