Pilot And Passenger Injured In The Accident

A vintage biplane being flown by the director of a high-end watch company in the U.K. went down Monday near an Elizabethan manor house in Northamptonshire. The pilot, identified as Giles English, director of the Bremont Watch Company, and a passenger, 11-year-old Oliver Nuttall, both survived the accident with "serious" injuries.

A statement from the company indicated that the plane suffered an "engine failure." "They were only a mile away from landing and reports are that Giles did an incredible job at putting the aircraft down in some very difficult terrain. Both pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries but thankfully are both on the road to recovery," the statement said.

The ITV news service reports that the company specializes in "aviation-inspired" watches, that according to the company website are born of a "joint lifetime love and passion for engineering and aviation" on the parts of Giles and his brother Nick.

The accident was witnessed by 19-year-old Ben Nichols, a resident of Lodge Farm near the accident scene. He said he saw the plane attempt to do what appeared to be a loop when the engine "cut out" and it began to "spiral down." He said that the pilot appeared to regain a "bit" of control before it landed "with a thud."

The accident scene is reported to be near several airfields. The injuries to English and Nuttall were said to be "non-life-threatening."

FMI: www.aaib.gov.uk