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Plane CrashesVersion 5

Pilot injured in light aircraft crash at Stow Maries air show

A pilot was injured when a light aircraft crashed during an air show at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome on August 16, 2026.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 16, 2026, 10:30 a.m. ETUpdated Aug 29, 2026, 9:39 a.m. ET
A pilot was injured when a crashed during an air show at Great War Aerodrome on August 16, 2026, according to reporting by The Independent and the Thurrock Gazette. The crash occurred , according to both outlets, which reported one injury. Venue officials said the aircraft was taking part in a display by . Organisers halted the sold-out air show immediately and closed the site to visitors, and the injured pilot was taken to a hospital in London. The event had been advertised as a "festival of aviation" to raise funds for an on-site First World War military aviation museum at Aerodrome, which contains the largest intact collection of Royal Flying Corps buildings from the First World War. The aircraft has not been identified. The cause has not been determined. Investigating bodies include the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and Essex Police. Venue officials confirmed they are co-operating with emergency services and the AAIB, according to The Independent. The aerodrome added that it is co-operating with the AAIB, according to The Independent. The pilot remains in a London hospital with life-changing injuries, not in a life-threatening condition, according to the Thurrock Gazette. The site will not reopen to air traffic until the AAIB investigation has concluded, according to the Thurrock Gazette.

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Reference data

From aircraft and geographic registries, not from the news sources. Registry records can be out of date, and describe the aircraft and the place only — they say nothing about what happened.

Terrain elevation
10 ft
Nearest aerodrome
3.9 miles NE of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome (GB-0562)

Sources

Revision history

  1. Version 529 Aug 2026, 13:39current

    No substantive changes; updated to reflect the latest reporting on the pilot's condition and the AAIB investigation.

  2. Version 424 Aug 2026, 06:55

    Updated with latest reporting on pilot's condition and site closure.

  3. Version 324 Aug 2026, 05:39

    Updated to reflect the latest reporting: the pilot remains in a London hospital with life-changing injuries, not in a life-threatening condition, and the site will not reopen to air traffic until the AAIB investigation concludes.

  4. Version 220 Aug 2026, 15:53

    Updated story to include light aircraft type and explicit attribution for investigating authorities.

  5. Version 118 Aug 2026, 11:22

    First published.

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