A pilot has died and his passenger has been taken to hospital following a plane crash in southern Scotland.
The pilot, a 40-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics after the incident, police said.
His 42-year-old passenger, also a man, has been left in a "critical condition" and remains under specialist care.
A Police Scotland statement released on Thursday evening reads: "We received a report of a light aircraft having crashed in the East Fortune area around 4.55pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
FlightRadar24 data shows how the microlight plummeted from 5,000ft in just minutes
FLIGHTRADAR24/EXODUS AIRCRAFT
"Emergency services attended, however the 40-year-old male pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin is aware.
"The 42-year-old male passenger was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he is described as being in a critical condition.
"Enquiries remain ongoing and the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified."
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Analysis of flight data from tracking site FlightRadar24 reveals that the "light aircraft" in question was a DeltaJet 500 StingRay, a microlight made by British firm Exolight.
The firm in question bills the aircraft as "the sophisticated answer to the needs of today's flexwing pilot".
While tracking data reveals that it managed to climb to just over 5,000ft before plummeting to the ground 12 minutes later.
The microlight had taken off from East Fortune airfield in East Lothian, before making it as far south as England's northern border at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The microlight had made it as far south as England's northern border at Berwick-upon-Tweed (pictured)
GETTY
The AAIB's most recent annual safety review, released last March, said it had carried out 10 investigations into fatal accidents, which involved 11 deaths.
All involved "general aviation" through seven light aircraft, two gliders and one hot air balloon.
Crispin Orr, the AAIB's chief inspector of air accidents, said: "Whilst this number of fatal accidents was not unusual, they all occurred in the summer months and the fatal glider mid-air collision was the first for nine years.
"Loss of control in flight continues to be the prevalent cause of fatal accidents. The key safety messages to avoid loss of control have been reinforced in revised promotional materials published by the Civil Aviation Authority."
