Warbirds over Wānaka was held over the weekend. Photo / File, George Heard
A vintage aircraft that had flown in the Warbirds over Wānaka airshow over the weekend flipped and crashed at Cromwell airport this afternoon.
A police spokesman said they received an alert at about midday after an aircraft appeared to have “flipped or crashed” near State Highway 6 and Ripponvale Road, by the Cromwell racecourse airport.
He said there were no serious injuries reported but there are road closures in place.
Warbirds over Wānaka was held nearby over the long weekend, and the plane, a Tiger Moth, had been flown at the show before this incident.
The pilot was a “young, good, great pilot for the future and it was his first display at Wānaka”, the event general manager, Ed Taylor, said.
“He was just returning the aircraft back to its base when the incident happened . . . we’ve heard various things about what happened but that’s for the pilot to work out.
“Obviously we’re very grateful to hear that no one’s been injured, which is the main thing and that [the pilot] and his partner are safe and well.”
Taylor also said it was sad the plane had been damaged.
One man on social media posted a photo of the incident, showing the plane lying upside down on the grass.
“Sad sight at the Cromwell racecourse around 12.15 today. Tiger Moth overturned. Emergency services there, hope no-one was injured,” he wrote.
Warbirds over Wānaka International Airshow was held for the first time in six years after attracting a sold-out 60,000 people for the biennial show.
The show was last held in 2018 with its 2020 and 2022 shows both cancelled due to Covid-19.
The Tiger Moth that crashed today is understood to be one of four of the aircraft that were involved in the show.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice, and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
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