A PILOT and passenger had a lucky escape when their light aircraft lost power in its port engine and they were forced to make an emergency landing at Lymington on Friday morning.
The twin-engined Piper Comanche suffered engine failure over the Needles at the western tip of the Isle of Wight on a flight from Jersey to Southampton.
A “mayday” call was made and air traffic control at Southampton suggested landing at the former wartime airstrip at Newtown Park Estate.
The aircraft touched down safely. But as it slowed its undercarriage gave way and it slewed off the grass airstrip before stopping. No-one was injured in the incident.
Both the pilot and passenger are described as middle-aged men from Jersey.
“As a result of the pilot being very experienced he managed to land the plane safely,” said a police spokesman.
“They walked away without any bumps or bruises quite miraculously.”
• The airfield was the scene of a fatal air crash in 2005. Brighton residents Anthony Baker, 53, and Elaine Parry, 43, both died when a Baker Banbi crashed on a flight between Shoreham and South Devon.
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