Laurence Dollimore
A YOUNG man has died after crashing his light aircraft on the Costa del Sol.
The 26-year-old, from Malaga, was piloting a motorsailer at the Axarquia aerodrome when the accident occurred just after 12pm.
A passenger, a 26-year-old German man, is in serious condition after being cut out of the aircraft by firefighters.
The pair crashed just a few minutes after take off and following a radio call from the pilot alerting other members of the flying club that he was feeling dizzy.
Policia Nacional, who have taken over the investigation, believe he may have fainted mid-air.
Those close to the investigation claim the flying club tried to guide the pilot with another plane and that he asked his passenger if he knew how to fly the aircraft, which he did not.
The pilot tried to land by circling the aerodrome track several times in a bid to regain control, but ultimately crashed nose first into the track.
The plane has a small engine which allows it to take off but which switches off once airborne.
The pilot was found dead by paramedics while the passenger, who suffered multiple fractures in both legs, was transferred to hospital in Malaga.
An autopsy will be carried out on the pilot.
