Monday, July 23, 2012

Two gliders in mid-air collision over Newmarket - UK

 The glider which landed safely following the mid-air collision over Newmarket.

Two gliders have collided over Newmarket this afternoon during a national gliding competition.

 The East of England Ambulance Service said the two pilots escaped without life-threatening injuries.

Cambridge Gliding Centre, based in Little Gransden, Bedfordshire, confirmed that the pilots were taking part in a national gliding competition.

A spokesman said: “Two gliders were involved in a mid-air collision near Newmarket. One of the pilots landed the glider safely and the other pilot parachuted out and is safe too and that’s all we know at this stage.

He said the police, ambulance and Air Accident Investigation Branch had all been informed.

Ambulance crews were called to the incident just before 4pm after eye witnesses reported at least one person had ejected from one of the gliders.

Both casualties were located in a field near the Al Bahathri gallop.

One escaped injury and the other was initially unconscious but regained consciousness and did not suffer any traumatic injuries. That patient was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, by land ambulance.

One witness said there were about 20 gliders flying over the town shortly before the collision, with reports they had also been seen over Fordham and Soham.

Suffolk Police were initially involved in the incident, but was passed over to Cambridgeshire. First calls came into Suffolk Police at 4pm.

The incident they believe was at 3.57pm.

Story and photo:  http://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk


 
 A map of the crash scene

A pilot has been found and brought to safety after his glider was involved in a mid-air collision with another during a competition. 

The wreckage of the two aircraft was found near Snailwell in Cambridgeshire, near Newmarket on the border with Suffolk.

One of the pilots parachuted to safety, while a hunt was launched for the other who was briefly unaccounted for.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene at about 4pm, including an air ambulance, and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch had been informed.

Lorna Marsh, spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service, said both pilots had now been found in a field on the east side of Newmarket gallops.

"One sustained no injuries and the other was initially unconscious but regained consciousness and did not suffer any traumatic injuries," she said.

"That patient was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital by land ambulance," she added.

A force spokeswoman said it was understood a glider competition had been taking place in the area.

She said the alarm was raised after "a parachute had been seen coming down near Snailwell in Cambridgeshire".

"There was a report two gliders had collided," she said.

"It would appear he (the parachutist) was one of the pilots.

"Both gliders have been found in Cambridgeshire."


Watch Video:  http://www.itv.com

Story:    http://news.sky.com


Pilots safe after gliders collide 

 Two pilots have been found after their gliders collided above Cambridgeshire

Two pilots escaped without serious injury after their gliders collided, the ambulance service has said.

The wreckage of the two aircraft was found near Snailwell in Cambridgeshire, near Newmarket on the border with Suffolk.

One of the pilots parachuted to safety but the other was briefly unaccounted for after police and paramedics were called at about 4pm.

Lorna Marsh, spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service, said both casualties had now been found in a field on the east side of Newmarket gallops.

She added: "One sustained no injuries and the other was initially unconscious but regained consciousness and did not suffer any traumatic injuries. That patient was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital by land ambulance."

A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said they understood there had been a glider competition taking place in the area when they were called to the scene.

"We were called just before 4pm to a call that a parachute had been seen coming down near Snailwell in Cambridgeshire," the police spokeswoman said.

"There was a report two gliders had collided. It would appear he (the parachutist) was one of the pilots.

"Both gliders have been found in Cambridgeshire."

She said an air ambulance was at the scene with land ambulances and that the Air Accidents Investigation Branch had been informed

Story:  http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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