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Video: Dramatic air crash aftermath

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Emergency services at the scene. Picture: Max Hess
Emergency services at the scene. Picture: Max Hess

The chaotic scenes immediately after a light aircraft crashed in bad weather in a Kent village were captured on film by an eyewitness.

Raphael Klatzko lives near the site of the incident at Hastingleigh, near Ashford. The plane, an Extra 300L, came down at the side of a field in a remote area not far from Hastingleigh church on Bank Holiday Monday and skidded on its underside up the hill for 50ft before coming to a stop.

Watch Raphael's dramatic video on the right of this page.

The couple on board were both injured. A woman was airlifted to hospital in London with serious neck injuries and the pilot suffered a head injury.

Raphael's father, Larry Klatzko, who also witnessed the crash, said: "I heard a light aircraft which seemed like it was losing height and having engine trouble as it was cutting out and then next minute there was a thud and the next minute silence."

An RAF helicopter arrived within 15 minutes, as well as other emergency services, but it took two hours to free the trapped woman.

Neighbours praised the speed and co-ordination of the emergency services and Larry added: "It looked like an incredibly well engineered rescue effort."

The Air Accident Investigation Branch said an inquiry into the cause of the crash is expected to take months.

For much more on the crash see this week's Kentish Express.

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