Plane crashes into the sea during a show walking on the wing during an air show in Bournemouth.
Pictures circulating on social media showed the plane – which someone was strapped to the top with a seat belt and cable – partially submerged in Poole after it plunged into the water during the Bournemouth Air Festival.
Dorset Police said the pilot and a crew member were rescued and exited with only minor injuries, which medics treated.
The force said an investigation was underway and asked citizens to avoid the area.
The festival, which was on its third day, has been suspended.
Officials are trying to find the plane’s black box to find out what happened, according to local media, although there have already been allegations that there was a problem with the plane’s engine.
One of the witnesses said Dorset Live A news site that “difficultly avoided several boats and The Haven” while snorkeling in the waters in the Sandbanks area of Poole.
“You came right in front of us,” a man named Alex wrote on Twitter, along with a dramatic photo of the sunken plane.
Another said: “A plane just crashed at the Bournemouth Air Show. The pilot and wing driver are uninjured. The plane landed in the sea and sank very quickly. Good news everyone is safe.”
The Bournemouth Aviation Festival’s official Twitter page has posted a photo of Dorset’s coastline, with the update that all flights at the event have been suspended until the end of Saturday.
And she added, “We intend to repeat the show’s program for tomorrow.”
A police statement said: “We received a report at 3.50pm on Saturday 4 September 2021 of a small plane crash in the water in the Sandbanks area of Poole Harbor. Emergency services are at the scene.
The plane was part of the Bournemouth Air Festival flight schedule with two people on board. Both occupants were rescued and were reported to have sustained minor injuries. They are being treated by the ambulance service.
“An investigation is underway and we ask the public to avoid the area and the port to allow emergency services to deal with the incident. A police cordon is in place at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Coast Guard spokesperson HM added in a statement that two RNLI Poole lifeboats have been placed to assist in the operation.
“Two people were rescued from the water and handed over to the ambulance service, although it is believed that they were unharmed,” the spokesperson said.
The organizers hope to be able to resume the festival’s show program tomorrow.
The festival site remains open and all ground activities are [will] Continue… and fireworks,” organizers reminded attendees in a tweet.