Pilot unhurt as light plane crashes

A 59-year-old pilot from Mosta was not injured when his light aircraft crashed into the sea off Filfla yesterday morning.

The US-registered Socata TB-20 Trinidad crashed at about 11 a.m. The pilot managed to climb out and get into an emergency dinghy.

The Armed Forces of Malta said its rescue coordination centre was informed by Malta Air Traffic Services that the aircraft had ditched into the sea four nautical miles off Dingli.

A helicopter and a patrol boat were dispatched and the pilot was winched up.

Transport Malta said it was gathering all information related to the incident, which was being probed by the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation.

Air traffic control received a call for help on the emergency frequency and a nearby aircraft was asked to assist in locating the pilot.

As a precautionary measure, he was taken to hospital for examination.

The AFM coordinated the clean-up operation of the aircraft debris floating at sea.