Nigel Farage injured in plane crash

UKIP leader Nigel Farage injured in plane crash in Northamptonshire.

The former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage has been injured in a plane crash in Northamptonshire.

The plane carrying two people crashed at Hinton in the Hedges Airfield at Steane, near Brackley, at 0759 BST.

A Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said Mr Farage and the pilot were freed from the wreckage.

Mr Farage was taken to hospital in Banbury with non-life threatening injuries, and the pilot was transferred to University Hospital in Coventry.

The pilot, who was trapped in the wreckage and had to be airlifted to hospital, is believed to be more seriously injured.

East Midlands Ambulance Service and fire crews remain at the scene.

A spokesman for UKIP said he believed Mr Farage had suffered minor injuries and was at Horton General Hospital.

The aircraft was due to circle over Buckingham, where Mr Farage is standing as a candidate, trailing a banner the spokesman said.

Mike Jose, Mr Farage's assistant, said they had previously flown the plane and banner over the constituency without any problems.

A UKIP spokesman said: "We've had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up, or there were cross-winds and it was unfamiliar airfield to the pilot."

The aircraft, believed to be a biplane, had flown into the airfield from Winchester area and was taking off again when the accident happened, the spokesman said.

The airfield has now been closed.

The incident is due to be investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Branch, Northamptonshire Police said.