A Spitfire has crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event.
Cops scrambled to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm.
The Spitfire went down in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby as part a Battle of Britain event.
The legendary British fighter was owned by the RAF, who said in a statement they were working with emergency services and supporting those involved.
A rescue helicopter is understood to have landed at the airfield after flying from Humberside.
No details of casualties have been reported.
Lincolnshire Police said: “Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm.
“It is believed to be a single occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved.
The pilot who died has been named by the RAF as Sqn Ldr Mark Long.
In a statement, the RAF said Sqn Ldr Long was “a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator.”
Leading the tributes, Gp Capt Robbie Lees, commander of the RAF’s Display Air Wing, said: “Mark was a Typhoon pilot here at RAF Coningsby and for the last four years he has been a pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
“A great friend, colleague, and a passionate, professional aviator he will be sorely missed by all that knew him.”
Gp Capt Lees said an investigation into the cause of the “tragic event” was now under way.
He added: “I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the RAF personnel, and our emergency services colleagues who responded so swiftly yesterday.
“Our thoughts remain with Mark’s family and friends to whom we offer our deepest sympathies. We ask that their privacy be respected at this tragic and shocking time.”
