PLANE PLUMMETS: But pilot has miracle escape

A WOMAN pilot from Worthing escaped without serious injuries when her light aircraft crashed in a field near Chichester on Sunday morning.

The 31-year-old had taken off from Goodwood airfield 15 minutes earlier, and had been flying above Arundel when the plane developed engine trouble. Her May Day distress call was picked up by a passing helicopter, with a qualified nurse on board, which was on its way to Redhill, in Surrey.

As the plane plunged towards the ground at Oving at 11.30am, people in cars immediately contacted the police and ambulance services, which were quickly on the scene, together with firefighters.

The helicopter landed next to the plane, and the nurse ran to the pilot's aid.