A glider pilot has died following a mid-air collision in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Leicestershire Police said that they were called on Thursday after reports of a glider crashing following a mid-air collision with a second glider.

One glider was found in a field in Alderman Way, Melton Mowbray, and the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.

The second glider landed safely nearby, with the pilot sustaining minor injuries.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified and will be leading the investigation.

Witnesses said the two gliders had collided midair and shocking pictures from the scene show one ‘completely obliterated’ after it plummeted to the ground.

One onlooker said: ‘One of the gliders has been completely obliterated. It would be a miracle if anyone has survived it.

‘They collided midair. There were a few in the sky at the time. One of the gliders looks ok, but the other span out and was left in multiple pieces across the field.

‘It’s a shocking scene to say the least. They narrowly avoided the town.’

When approached by reporters, the AAIB declined to comment but a spokesperson said that the wreckage had been recovered and the investigation was ongoing.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We received a call from Leicestershire Police at 15:05 to a microlight or glider that had crashed in a field in Melton Mowbray.

‘We sent an appliance from Melton Mowbray Station and Birstall Station.’

Leicestershire Police has urged anyone with information or footage of the incident to contact police on 101, quoting incident 422 of August 17.

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