An investigation is underway after a light aircraft overturned on landing at Swansea Airport on Saturday 19 July, leaving two people injured.
The privately-owned single-engine sports plane had been out on a leisure flight around the Gower before attempting to land. Emergency services say the aircraft veered left and flipped over on the runway, sustaining significant damage and rendering it a write-off.
The pilot, an 84-year-old man from Sketty, and his passenger, a 78-year-old woman from Reading, were taken to Morriston Hospital by the Welsh Ambulance Service. Both were treated for injuries but are not believed to be seriously hurt.
Emergency response and investigation
Crews from Swansea West and Swansea Central fire stations attended the scene alongside police and ambulance teams. The incident was reported at 4.28pm, and crews left the site just over an hour later.
Skydive Swansea, which was operating at the airport on the day, assisted at the scene and helped return the damaged aircraft to its hangar.
South Wales Police said the crash is believed to be the result of pilot error, and confirmed that no concerns were raised about the pilot’s fitness to fly.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation into the incident.
Airport operating under new management
The crash comes just weeks after Swansea Airport entered a new chapter, with the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance taking over operations on a temporary basis following the end of the previous lease.
The council-owned airport is currently unlicensed, meaning it cannot host commercial passenger flights, but private aviation activities — including flying schools and skydiving — continue unaffected.
The Stakeholders Alliance, made up of local aviation groups and volunteers, stepped in after Swansea Council announced a change of operator was imminent due to a “range of issues” with former leaseholder Swansea Airport Ltd. The group is now awaiting a council decision on whether it will be granted the lease full-time.
