A lone pilot miraculously escaped injury after his light aircraft was forced into a sudden emergency landing on the South Downs near Saltdean this afternoon.
Engine Failure Sparks Mid-Flight Drama
The single-engine Yakovlev Yak-52 took off from Henstridge Airfield, Somerset, at 11.43am, bound for the Netherlands on a delivery run. But trouble hit shortly after the plane crossed the Sussex coast.
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Residents in Peacehaven heard the aircraft “stuttering” as it flew overhead. Flight data revealed a sharp U-turn over Newhaven followed by a rapid drop in altitude.
Touchdown in a Field Saves the Day
The pilot managed a safe landing in a field near Falmer Road, Rottingdean, despite the engine cutting out. Danny Butler, one of the first on the scene, described the pilot as “shaken but absolutely fine” — sitting calmly on the wing, munching sandwiches and sipping coffee.
“The first thing he said was, ‘Suppose I should call the wife really!’” — Danny Butler
The plane’s owner, Jez Hopkinson, confirmed the sudden engine failure left the pilot no choice but to glide down onto the Downs during what was meant to be a routine ferry flight.
Swift Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
East Sussex Fire and Rescue arrived promptly after the incident was reported at 12.31pm. A spokesperson said crews secured the scene and confirmed the pilot was unharmed. Further emergency resources were stood down.
