A PILOT was 'fortunate' to escape unscathed after crashing a glider into trees behind a row of houses.
Police, firefighters and ambulance crews scrambled to Caversfield Park near Bicester this afternoon, after the light aircraft veered into trees bordering the field.
The fire service initially urged members of the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel dealt with the incident.
Firefighters helping the pilot from the glider. Picture by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
SCAS tweeted this picture of the glider in the trees
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the crash happened just off Davis Gardens, a residentail cul-de-sac.
It said the glider was just over 10ft off the ground and the pilot, a man, was still in the aircraft upon arrival.
The cordon around the glider. Pic: Dina Sikorska
Pic: Dina Sikorska
A statement from firefighters said the pilot was 'able to isolate the glider's battery' before being helped to the ground using ladders.
Both crews currently working with @TVP_Bicester @SCAS999 dealing with a aircraft incident in Caversfield - please avoid the area at this time.
— Bicester Fire Stn (@firebicester) March 26, 2019
Thames Valley Police is on the scene of a light aircraft crash in Bicester.
— TVP_Bicester (@TVP_Bicester) March 26, 2019
A glider has come down in Caversfield Park, Bicester, but there are no injuries.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch are aware and officers will remain on scene while the aircraft is recovered. pic.twitter.com/NLN3HdUQqN
South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said a 999 call came in at 2.12pm, reporting that 'a glider had come down into trees at the airfield.'
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Caversfield Park near Bicester, and the area where the glider crashed. Pic: Google Maps
He added: "We sent an ambulance and two rapid response vehicles to the scene.
"The pilot was fortunately uninjured, but was obviously quite high up.
"He was safely brought down by the fire service and assessed and cleared by our staff at the scene."
The tail of the aircraft sticking out from trees. Pic: Brian Jordan
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SCAS tweeted: "Fortunately the pilot of this glider was uninjured and made the final few metres back to solid ground with the help of our colleagues from [Bicester Fire Station].
"Excellent 999 response from our control room team and team at the scene, fire [service] and @TVP_Bicester."
Thames Valley Police said it has alerted the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and confirmed that no-one had been injured.
In 2010 a glider crashed on the other side of Caversfield Park, just feet from a family’s home, after the pilot attempted to land at Bicester Gliding Centre.
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