7.00 pm - By JO-MARIE BROWN
A Hamilton father and daughter made a lucky escape from their microlight plane this afternoon after a mid-air collision forced them to crash land on a Whitford property's front lawn.
The pair were flying back to Hamilton just after 4pm when the propeller of another microlight sliced through the bottom of their plane, injuring the 15-year-old girl.
An eye-witness who called an ambulance said the man knew he had been hit but did not realise another microlight was involved.
After switching the engine off, he successfully glided in to make an emergency landing on the front lawn of a Whitford property.
The man escaped unscathed but his daughter was taken to Middlemore Hospital.
No injuries were reported from the second microlight involved which also made an emergency landing in Cockle Bay.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Warbirds over Wanaka
Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts turned out to see some impressive aircraft in action yesterday at a preview of the Warbirds over Wanaka show this weekend. The popular event had been grounded for the past six years, partly because of Covid pandemic restrictions. This Easter weekend it returns, with a sellout crowd of more than 60,000 people set to attend today and tomorrow. Photos / George Heard