Two dead after light aircraft crashes near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire

Two men have died after a light aircraft crashed in North Yorkshire on Saturday 30 April. Emergency services were called to the area at 10:40am on Saturday, and police later stated that two people, the pilot and his passenger, had died.

The crash took place near Castle Howard in the Ryedale area, the aircraft crashed in fields near the A64. Members of the public have been told to avoid the area as a number of roads are currently closed.

An eyewitness told the BBC that he came across the crash on his way to a football match: "It looks like the aircraft attempted a crash landing. It looks like it came through the hedge towards the field." 20 firefighters were at the scene and a foam blanket was positioned around the aircraft as a precaution in case it catches fire.

An ambulance and an air ambulance attended the scene and the Air Accident Investigation Branch is aware of the situation. North Yorkshire Police told Sky News: "Roads in the area have been closed to allow emergency services to deal with the incident and members of the public are advised to keep away from the area."

Police later confirmed that the crash took place just off Mains Lane, between Whitwell-on-the-Hill and Wellburn but the dead have not yet been identified.