Britain’s poll candidate hurt in plane crash

LONDON - A contestant in the British general elections was injured Thursday when his two-seater aircraft crashed in Northamptonshire.

Nigel Farage, who is contesting Speaker John Bercow’s seat in Buckingham, was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries following the crash at Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield, near Brackley, The Telegraph reported.

The plane went down just after 8 a.m., also injuring the pilot, who reportedly had to be cut out of the cockpit and was taken to hospital.

A Northamptonshire police spokesman said: “Just after 8 a.m., a two-seater light aircraft came down at Hinton in the Hedges airfield. Two people were on board the aircraft, pilot and passenger, and both suffered what are believed to be minor injuries”.

The plane was due to fly over the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The light aircraft was pulling a UKIP banner and it is believed it may have been caught up in the engine. The banner reportedly carried the slogan “Vote for your country - Vote UkIP”.

Farage was taken to Horton General Hospital in Banbury. A UKIP (UK Independence Party) spokesman said: “We’ve had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up or there were cross-winds and it was unfamiliar airfield to the pilot, who had to be cut out of the plane.

“UKIP is sure that everybody involved in today’s General Election will join us in hoping and praying that the pilot recovers from his injuries as soon as possible.”

Farage suffered “minor head injuries” but campaigners had been told to “carry on”, he said.

The aircraft was believed to be a 1960s-style biplane which left the Winchester area early today and flew into Hinton. The accident happened as it was taking off again from Hinton, the spokesman said.

A 40-year-old man, who was working at the airfield when the accident happened, said: “I was in the hangar and suddenly all these ambulances and fire engines went past. I saw the plane take off. All I know is that it was banner-towing for UKIP.”

Richard Harrison, who owns the airfield, said it had been closed and air crash investigators were on their way to the scene.

He said he did not know what caused the crash or the make of the plane involved.