‘Disaster movie scene’ as aircraft crashes into two houses in Manchester suburb

Emergency services were called to the scene in Newlands Avenue, Salford, just after 12.20pm today following reports that a plane had come down in the residential area.

The injured pair, a man in his late 50s and one aged 21, were taken by air ambulance to hospital.

It is understood there are no other reported casualties at this stage.

A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service said: “There were two patients on board who both suffered burns. A man in his late 50s had 70% burns and a man aged 21 had 60% burns.

“Both were taken by the North West Air Ambulance to Wythenshawe Hospital. We have had no reports of any other casualties.”

Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and six hazardous area response vehicles were sent to the scene, added the spokeswoman.

A cordon is in place as police and at least six fire engines attended the crash area.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers attended and discovered a light aircraft had come down and collided with two properties.

“The A57 is closed in both directions and diversions are in place.”

The crash site is close to Barton Airfield at City Airport Manchester

No-one was available at the airport to comment if the plane had just taken off or was returning to the airfield.

Speaking at the scene, Greater Manchester Fire Service station commander Paul Duggan said an occupant of one of the houses and neighbours rushed to help the stricken pilot and his passenger.

He said: “The light aircraft has crashed between and into two semi-detached houses.

“The plane had also caught fire so a number of people, including an occupant of the property, two passers-by and a passing police officer, then tried to fight the fire by putting water on it.

“That was fairly successful but not until some burns had been sustained by the occupants of the aircraft.

“I believe that there was a mayday call made so the local fire crew at Manchester City Airport also turned out.

“One occupant of the plane was removed quite quickly but the second had to be cut from the wreckage.”

Mr Duggan said a man who was inside the house struck by the plane was unharmed and managed to assist the rescue.

Locals who saw and heard the crash described the scene as being like something from a disaster movie.

Mark Frimston, 25, a forklift truck driver, who lives in a block of flats nearby, said: “I heard a bang, like a gas explosion.

“It was as if a bomb went off - my baby started crying because it scared him.

“We could hear screaming, women screaming initially and then a man screaming in terror. I just panicked and ran downstairs.

“When I got outside I could see people running about and then when I got out of the front door there was loads of smoke in the air, you could taste it in your mouth.

“When I ran around the corner I could see the plane embedded into the side of a house.

“People were running to help and kicked the gate down to get into the garden where the plane had come down.

“I think they used a garden hose on the fire.

“The police arrived quite quickly and then the people in the plane were airlifted to hospital.”

Mr Frimston said the sight of microlights flying low over the houses towards the nearby airfield was nothing unusual.

He described it as “enjoyable to watch” but added that there had been accidents before.

“There’s going to have to be a review of how far they are coming down because this has happened three times now.

“Fortunately nobody has been killed.”

The Fire Service said the crash caused extensive structural damage to one of the properties but there was no continuing danger to the public from fuel leaks.

Mr Duggan said: “It is a light aircraft so there will only be a limited amount of fuel.

“Some of it will have burned off but we have put a foam blanket down to extinguish the fire and contain any vapours because it’s the vapour that burns.

“We will be looking at clearing that up but it’s a minor issue. The more pressing issue is to make the building safe.”

He went on: “The aircraft landed fairly neatly between the two buildings but not without some impact damage.

“It was fairly badly damaged by the impact and the fire but it is still recognisable as an aircraft.

“Potentially, part of the building may have to be demolished for safety reasons but engineers are still examining the scene.

“The aircraft is still between the two houses and documenting the scene will be required for an air accident investigation.”