Inquest hears cause of death of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight pilot in Spitfire crash

Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Mark Long died from head and neck injuries suffered in a crash during a flight in a Second World War Spitfire, an inquest opening was told.

The 43-year-old Battle of Britain Memorial Flight pilot died on 25 May when the aircraft he was flying went down in a field near RAF Coningsby.

The coroner's officer told the inquest opening that a post-mortem examination was carried out on 29 May which had offered a provisional cause of death as "traumatic head and neck injury".

It was also stated that the precise medical cause of death was yet to be determined, and the investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing.

Senior coroner Paul Smith, sitting at Greater Lincolnshire Coroner's Court, said: "I am satisfied that the death of Squadron Leader Long is one which will require an inquest.

"Plainly it is early stages in relation to my inquiry.

"It is likely to be a complex inquiry. That being so I propose to adjourn these proceedings to a provisional date of 24 November this year."

Sqn Ldr Long's family said he had "lived his life with an unwavering passion" and "will be cherished and deeply missed".

"His talent for flying was there for all to see, and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious," they said..

"Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all."

The Royal Air Force has temporarily grounded the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.