WW1-Era Plane Makes Emergency Landing On Devon Beach

Cover Image: A light aircraft lands on Devon Beach (Pictures: Beer Coastguard Rescue Team)

A First World War era plane had to make an emergency landing on a Devon beach, after facing problems with its engine.

Neither pilot or passenger were injured in the incident on Saturday.

The aircraft had been attending a special event at the Bodmin Airfield over the bank holiday to celebrate the Royal Air Force's 100th anniversary and Help for Heroes.

But on its way back to base it got into difficulty.

Coastguards rescuers were called after the light aircraft had to land on Jacobs Ladder Beach at Sidmouth, because of an engine fault.

Beer Coastguard Rescue Team posted on social media and confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident.

"Coastguard rescue officers arrived on scene and quickly established that no persons on the beach were injured and the two occupants of the aircraft where uninjured."

The pilot was also praised for his efforts on safely landing the plane. 

"The pilot made the emergency landing after the engine developed a fault.

"He showed great skill in landing on an area of the beach which was less populated than the area nearer to Jacobs Ladder."

The pilot, Zac Rocky, told the Sidmouth Herald his only option was to attempt to land on the beach when the engine began to lose power.

He said: “We were flying along the coast taking in the beautiful scenery of the Jurassic coast. The engine had some issues. It began to lose power, it faded.

"I cycled a few options in the cockpit to no avail and at that point, you have to choose somewhere to come down.

“The land option inland was unavailable. I could have made it but it looked unpleasant.

"The scenery around here is not a nice place to land something like that and also you need to be around somebody – you need to be near somebody who can help you once you’re down if there’s an issue.”

Trudi Spiller accompanied Pilot Zac Rockey on the flight, speaking to DevonLive she said she was "frightened".

"I was slightly frightened. It wasn't like my life flashed before me or anything but I was thinking 'here we go'. But I also had absolute faith Zac would land it. He is an amazing, fantastic pilot and I had every confidence in him."

The aircraft was later towed away from the shoreline and on Sunday it had been dismantled, so it could be removed from the beach.

It will be returned back to its base, where the owners can put her back together.