Pilot's 'miracle' escape as plane crashes into sea upside down

EXCLUSIVE Pilot’s ‘miracle’ escape after light aircraft crashes into the sea: Dogwalker saw terrifying moment plane ‘stalled and tried to restart its engine’ before falling ‘upside down in the water’

• The plane crash-landed in the sea near Porthcawl, south Wales, this morning 
• The male pilot managed to walk away from his aircraft before it sunk into the sea 

A pilot had a ‘miracle’ escape after his light aircraft crash-landed into the sea – narrowly avoiding slamming into nearby houses and rocks. 

The terrifying incident took place this morning in the coastal town of Porthcawl, near Bridgend in south Wales. 

Witnesses reported seeing the pilot desperately trying to regain control of the ‘spluttering’ plane after it ‘stalled’ before it plummeted into the sea, landing upside down.

Incredibly, the male pilot survived the crash and was able to escape from the sinking aircraft, walking onto the shore.

The drama was witnessed by dogwalker Elliot Jones. The 28-year-old plumber told MailOnline: ‘The plane was low as it flew over the houses. If it hadn’t had turned back out to the sea, he could have exploded some houses and killed some people. It was a miracle.’

The light aircraft came down just feet away from the shore, landing upside down in the sea

The plane crash-landed at about 9.20am off the shore at Porthcawl, in south Wales. Pictured is an RNLI lifeboat at the scene of the incident 

Miraculously, the pilot managed to escape from the aircraft before it sunk into the sea 

Speaking of the moment the plane came down near the Welsh town’s busy promenade, Mr Jones added: ‘I was taking the dogs for a walk and saw this plane fly over. 

‘It went to turn right over the houses and stalled. Once it stalled it tried to restart its engines. I could hear it struggling. I thought It was going to crash and it was going to hit the houses.

‘The plane then disappeared towards the sea. Once I got round the corner, I saw it was upside down in the water by the rocks. I couldn’t believe it.’ 

Police, coastguards and crews from the RNLI were scrambled to the scene, just off the shore near Porthcawl Grand Pavilion, at about 9.20am. 

The rescue operation was led by the coastguard, with three RNLI lifeboat teams from Port Talbot and Porthcawl involved.

Witnesses reported the male pilot managed to walk away after ditching his aircraft, a two-seater Renegade Spirit, in the sea. 

Onlooker Terry Sinnett tweeted: ‘Looks like a small aircraft has come down in Porthcawl. Pilot being attended by public but was walking. Hoping everyone is safe.’

He later tweeted: ‘Think I saw pilot being helped away from sea by the emergency services. Seems pilot has had a miraculous escape, thankfully.’ 

The light aircraft came down close to the RNLI HQ in Porthcawl, south Wales

Witnesses reported seeing the pilot trying to gain control of the plane after it ‘stalled’ before it plummeted into the sea, landing upside down. Pictured are RNLI crews at the scene 

Police, fire crew, the RNLI and coastguards were all scrambled to the incident, alongside paramedics 

Dogwalker Elliot Jones, who witnessed the incident, said it was a ‘miracle’ the light aircraft didn’t slam into nearby houses. Pictured is the aircraft in the sea, left, and homes, right

The rescue operation was led by the coastguard. Three RNLI lifeboat teams from Port Talbot and Porthcawl were scrambled

A spokesman from the coastguard added the person made their way ‘out of the plane and onto dry land’.

He was later taken into the care of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

‘The coastguard search and rescue helicopter from St Athan was also alerted, as well as South Wales Police and the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service,’ the coastguard spokesman added.

Chris Page, RNLI Lifeboat press officer at Porthcawl, told MailOnline: ‘RNLI volunteer crews never quite know what to expect when the call for help comes. 

‘We are trained to deal with every eventuality, but were incredibly relieved to arrive on scene to find the pilot was able to be safely recovered.’

It is not known what caused the crash. The Civil Aviation Authority has been made aware of the incident.  

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