Karmactive Staff
A light aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park near Bembridge on the Isle of Wight Saturday afternoon, but quick-thinking bystanders pulled both occupants to safety before the aircraft was engulfed.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary reported they were called at 2:23 PM on April 12, 2025, after the plane went down among chalets at the busy holiday destination.
“This plane came over our heads and the engine cut out,” said James Lowe, a sales manager from Horsham who witnessed the incident while watching children play archery. “They then turned back to the airport but lost a lot of altitude and we could see it was going to crash into the holiday park.”
The aircraft had taken off from nearby Bembridge Airport before experiencing difficulties. Inspector Alex Dale confirmed the plane “banked around and then clipped a chimney before crashing near the chalets.”
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Remarkably, both occupants escaped with only minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene. Neither required hospital transport, according to Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
Firefighters from Newport and Ryde arrived shortly before 2:30 PM to find the aircraft had “suffered extensive damage from the impact and subsequent fire.” Crews used a hose reel jet and thermal imaging equipment to fully extinguish the blaze before standing down at 3:45 PM.
One witness described feeling a “shockwave” followed by a loud bang and black smoke. Jake Gibson, a chalet owner, reported hearing a “loud, metallic bang” from approximately 200 meters away.
The holiday park remained operational throughout the incident, with no road closures except for a temporary shutdown of Hillway Road, which has since reopened. Southern Vectis implemented bus diversions while emergency services worked at the scene.
Dr. Darko Ilioski, a local dentist who rushed to offer assistance, found the occupants had already been rescued by holiday park guests. One woman who assisted in the rescue reportedly suffered minor burns.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified and will conduct a full investigation to determine what caused the engine to cut out mid-flight. Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward, referencing case number 44250160063.
