Old Buckenham Airfield crash: Champion aerobatics pilot David Jenkins dies

A friend said: "He was the best bloke I knew"

David Jenkins who crashed his aircraft and died (Wildcat Aerobatics /PA Wire)

A “highly skilled” champion aerobatics pilot has died after crashing an aircraft in Norfolk.

The man, named locally as David Jenkins, is believed to have been flying an Edge 360 plane as part of a display to launch the Old Buckenham Airshow for members of the media.

Police attended Old Buckenham Airfield near Attleborough, after a member of the public raised the alarm about the Edge 360 plane flying in the area, at around 2:40pm.

An area of the airfield was cordoned off to allow officers to deal with the incident. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been informed.

Mr Jenkins, who was in his 50s, was a member of the Wildcat Aerobatic Team based at Old Buckenham Airfield.

His profile on the club’s website said that he had started flying as a teenager, when he lived near Panshangar airfield near Welwyn Garden City.

Following a career in fibre optics, Mr Jenkins trained as a private pilot, but did not start performing aerobatics for another 15 years.

In 2009, he bought the Edge aircraft and went on to become a two-time British advanced aerobatics champion.

Mr Jenkins joined the Wildcat team in 2013, providing “an exciting dynamic solo display”, the website said.

The Edge 360 aircraft just as it begins to spiral out of control (Image: Mustard TV) (Mustard TV/PA Wire)

A friend, who did not want to be identified, paid a heart-felt tribute to Mr Jenkins, and told the Press Association: "He was the best bloke I knew. He was highly skilled and knew exactly what he was doing."

Simon Garrett, a pilot who flew out of the airfield this morning, said: "We were due to land back here but were diverted because of this emergency.

"We didn't know anybody had died until now.

"It is a terrible tragedy and very unusual because the teams involved are highly skilled.

"I knew the gentleman involved and he was very experienced."

A Norfolk Police spokesman said: "Officers attended, along with colleagues from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service, to find wreckage near to the airfield.

"Police believe one person has died as a result of the crash and officers are currently trying to identify and inform next of kin."

Additional reporting by PA