Melton Mowbray Mid-Air Crash: Pilot killed as two gliders collide into each other

A glider pilot lost their life in a mid-air collision over Leicestershire. Police received a call before 3:00 PM BST on Thursday about a glider crash following a collision with another glider over Melton Mowbray.

Emergency responders found the crashed aircraft in a field on Alderman Road. The pilot was declared dead at the scene. The second glider managed to land safely nearby, and its pilot sustained minor injuries.

At the site, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Leicestershire Police, and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service were present. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the investigation, and a team from AAIB was dispatched to the location.


The glider in which the deceased pilot was flying took off from The Gliding Centre at Husbands Bosworth Airfield, Leicestershire. The glider's departure was around 12:30 PM BST, and it made several turns over Melton Mowbray before crashing.

Eyewitnesses reported observing the mid-air collision between the gliders. David Leach, a resident of Marigold Crescent, stated that he saw the gliders circling above and then heard a loud bang. One glider's wing clipped the other, causing it to crash rapidly. The impact's noise was distressing for the witnesses.

Joy Leach, his wife, expressed the shock of witnessing such a tragic event so closely while being in their garden.

A resident from the nearby village of Burton Lazars shared that one of the pilots approached her after landing in a field. The pilot was visibly shaken and worried about the other pilot's well-being.

Police have requested anyone with information or footage related to the incident to come forward and contact them at 101, referring to incident number 422 of August 17.

FAQs

Q1:What happened in the glider crash near Melton Mowbray?
A glider pilot died in a mid-air collision with another glider. The incident occurred over Leicestershire, with one glider crashing and the other landing safely.

Q2:Where did the crashed glider take off from?
The glider that crashed had taken off from The Gliding Centre at Husbands Bosworth Airfield in Leicestershire. It had flown for a while before the crash occurred.