Plane recovered after crashing into woodland near Robin Hood pub in Blue Bell Hill, Rochester
14:44, 08 November 2022
updated: 15:55, 08 November 2022
A plane has been recovered after crashing into dense woodland.
Ruth Samson, 49, and Timothy Nathan, 65, took off from Rochester Airport at around 11am on Monday, October 31 before losing power and landing in a tree.
Around 20 emergency vehicles attended the scene, near the 700-year-old Robin Hood pub at Blue Bell Hill.
The pair remained stuck in the trees for around four hours before being rescued at 3.30pm.
The aircraft has since been recovered from the trees.
An investigation into the accident has started, with the plane being removed last week.
According to Robin Hood landlord, Andy Selby, by the morning after the crash, the plane had fallen some of the way down through the branches due to high winds.
At that stage, it was still 5ft off the ground.
The area remained cordoned off last Tuesday with police present due to the plane still containing fuel.
It is understood the plane was recovered before the weekend.
The aircraft was taken away by a lorry and taken to an airport for further investigation.
The crash is being looked in to by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
An AAIB spokesman said: "An accident involving a light aircraft which landed on some trees in the Blue Bell Hill area of Kent on October 31 was notified to the AAIB.
"An investigation has been started and the branch is in the process of making inquiries.
"The AAIB has approved the release of the aircraft back to the owners for recovery."
Speaking after the accident, Mr Nathan said both he and Ms Samson were "very very thankful for all of the emergency services".
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
The abandoned ‘ghost road’ that once took holidaymakers to the Kent coast
18 - 2
Motorway reopens after fuel spillage in collision
- 3
Dad who took cocaine on holiday still had drug in system when stopped by police
- 4
Rolexes and crypto: How dealer selling drugs from bedroom hid ‘massive profits’
19 - 5
Everything you need to know about Kent’s biggest Christmas market
3