A historic Supermarine Spitfire from World War II made an emergency landing in a field near Kent, United Kingdom, after losing power.
This incident occurred just ahead of the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), which marks the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945. Although VE Day falls on May 8, this year the UK is observing the occasion on May 5 as part of the bank holiday weekend.
The aircraft involved, a Supermarine Spitfire registered as G-BMSB, crashed near Lower Wall Road in West Hythe on May 3, 2025, at 19:23 local time due to engine failure, as reported by the Aviation Safety Network.
The aircraft, owned by a training company, Warbird Experiences, was operated by UK-based ‘Fly a Spitfire’ company.
Witnesses captured video footage of the aircraft suddenly changing direction and crash-landing in a field.
#Breaking #Ongoing A Supermarine Spitfire trainer crash-landed in Kend (England). Both 2 aboard survived. Reportedly cause was an engine failure. Plane [Registration “G-BMSB”] was operated by “Warbird Experiences Ltd” pic.twitter.com/qRDtFwdsQv
— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) May 4, 2025
There were two people on board, a pilot and a passenger. The Kent Fire and Rescue Service informed The Telegraph that both escaped the aircraft, and paramedics attended to one of them.
“We were called to Lower Wall Road, West Hythe, to an aircraft that had made an emergency landing,” Kent Fire and Rescue Service said. “Two fire engines attended, and crews helped to make the scene safe.”
On May 4, 2025, Fly a Spitfire issued a statement on Facebook confirming that they are “aware of an incident involving one of Spitfire aircraft in the vicinity of Hythe”.
“We have spoken to the pilot who has advised that a precautionary landing was made at a non-airfield site,” Fly a Spitfire statement read. “The pilot and passenger are uninjured.”
The cause of the aircraft’s power loss is still unknown, and the Air Accident Investigation Branch has started an investigation.
