Glider pilot dies when two planes collide while landing at private airfield where Nigel Farage was nearly killed in an accident in 2010

Investigations are ongoing after a man died when two gliders crashed at an airfield.

The planes were reportedly preparing to land when they collided at Hinton-in-the-Hedges private airfield near Brackley, Northamptonshire, on Saturday afternoon.

Police, fire brigade and rescue services arrived at the scene of the accident shortly before 4 p.m., but a 45-year-old man died.

Northamptonshire Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have launched an investigation “to establish the circumstances of the incident and understand the cause of the collision”.

Investigators remained on site this morning.

The police appealed to anyone who has mobile phone recordings to come forward.

The incident apparently took place at Hinton Airfield, which offers gliding, skydiving and private flights. It is also home to Banbury Gliding Club, which offers gliding lessons.

In gliding, aircraft are flown without propulsion and the naturally occurring air currents are used.

According to the British Gliding Association, the rules state that when approaching another aircraft head-on, both aircraft must turn right to avoid each other.

The gliding tragedy occurred just hours after an RAF pilot was killed when his World War II Spitfire crashed into a field.

The pilot, whose name was not disclosed, died when his 80-year-old fighter plane – one of the last remaining aircraft of its type to serve on D-Day – crashed into the ground just yards from a house near RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire.

Pictures showed the wreckage crashing through a hedge and into the garden of a bungalow next to the field. No one on the ground was injured.

It is believed that the aircraft – part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – had just taken off and was headed to the Lincolnshire Heritage Aviation Centre, about 15 miles away, for one of its first flying displays of the summer.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident on Langrick Road in Lincolnshire shortly before 1.20pm on Saturday.

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The male pilot, whose name is not yet known, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to him last night.

Images showed the plane was completely destroyed when it crashed into a field near Langrick Road, which runs along the RAF base site.

Just last week, MK356 was photographed along with three other Spitfires and a Hurricane performing manoeuvres in the skies above Coningsby as they prepared for a busy flying display season.

The crash occurred at the same airfield where Nigel Farage was injured in a light aircraft crash 14 years ago.

This morning, investigators from the Aircraft Accident Division examined the wreckage in the corner of the small private airfield, which is located in a quiet area.

A man who uses the airfield said: “All we know is that they crashed on approach to landing. The investigation is ongoing. During this time the airfield has been closed for the day.”

Members of Banbury Gliding Club, who operate from the airfield, were in their building at the airfield today/Sunday.

One said: “There is nothing to say. You have to talk to the aviation investigators.”

When asked if anyone wanted to pay their last respects to the deceased man, another replied: “Nobody really knows the deceased man well.”

Visitors to the small airfield are expected to fill out a form before taking off and landing. The airfield’s website states: “Visitors are welcome with prior approval only. All prospective aviators wishing to visit us are requested to fill in their details and read the conditions applicable to their visit.”

The East Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement: “We received a call from Hinton in the Hedges, Brackley, at 3.48pm yesterday, Saturday 25 May. The caller reported a medical emergency. We dispatched multiple emergency services, including an ambulance and crew, and transported a patient to John Radcliffe Hospital.”

In May 2010, Farage was on a two-seater plane towing a “Vote UKIP” banner when, according to witnesses, it became entangled in the tail fin. Farage exited the plane covered in blood but was not seriously injured. The pilot had to be extricated and was treated for back injuries.