moment plane 'nosedives into airfield just after takeoff' killing pilot

A grab of the light aircraft crash landing on the runway (Picture: provided to Metro with permission)

A pensioner has died after a light aircraft crashed at a flight club in North Yorkshire.

Emergency services were called to the Sherburn Aero Club in Sherburn near Leeds,where a plane crashed landed on the runway just before 1pm today.

Witness Liz Crossley was among those at the airfield watching planes take off with her family on a perfectly sunny Sunday afternoon.

She told Metro: ‘It took off. It went up in the air until it was almost vertical then the plane turned to the side. It then nosedived into the ground.

‘It was only up about 200 feet then it crashed back onto the airfield.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.‘They called the emergency services and lots of police came.’Police and ambulance attended the incident,where a man,the sole occupant of the plane,was declared dead.The man was in his 70s and from the Leeds area,police confirmed.Firefighters attend the runway at the flight club following the fatal crash (Picture: YappApp)A man has died after a light aircraft crashed at the Sherburn Aero Club in North Yorkshire (Picture: Google)His family are being supported by specialist officers.The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a probe into the incident.North Yorkshire Police said in a statement: ‘We are currently guarding the scene and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been made aware.‘We are not currently able to release any further information about the incident or deceased.’According to its website,Sherburn Aero Club offers pilot training as well as trial flying lessons and is open to members of the public.