A pilot and passenger escaped uninjured when their light aircraft came down in the river Axe in Musbury.

The plane made an emergency landing on Tuesday afternoon (August 1), triggering a major response from the fire service, ambulance and police.

The pilot had made a Mayday call at about 1.55pm, which was picked up by the crew of a military helicopter and Exeter Airport’s air traffic control.

Bridport fire station’s 4 x 4 appliance was mobilised, along with fire crews from Seaton, Colyton, Yeovil, Middlemoor and Exmouth. 

The emergency services were directed to the scene by the helicopter, which was hovering overhead, and also used the what3words location app to pinpoint the site.

By this time the pilot and passenger had managed to climb out of the cockpit and were standing on the wing of the plane.

Exmouth Journal: Firefighters were called to a plane crash

Crews managed to get life jackets to them and made the scene safe, while setting up downstream protection. An environmental protection unit was summoned as a precaution because there was concern over fuel and oil leaking into the river.

Exmouth Journal: Ladders were used to bring the passengers to safety

Bridport’s 4 x 4 appliance was deployed to the opposite side of the river and crews used a triple extension ladder to reach the plane’s passengers, who were handed to the ambulance service for medical checks.

The crews confirmed that no fuel or oil had leaked into the river.

The incident was then handed over to the aircraft’s recovery team.