Kate Middleton and Prince William Express Condolences After RAF Pilot’s Tragic Spitfire Crash expressed grief over the pilot’s death in a statement on Saturday, May 25.
In a statement shared on X, the RAF confirmed the pilot had died “in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby.”
Expressing his sorrow, he wrote in the caption on his Twitter account, “Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby. Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C”
According to the BBC, it was a World War II-era Spitfire fighter plane belonging to the BBMF that crashed. A further confirmation was released on Sunday, 26 May, that RAF Group Captain Robbie Lees, Commander Display Air Wing, Squadron Leader Mark Long died in the crash.
A statement on the RAF website said, “It is with great sorrow that I must confirm the death of Squadron Leader Mark Long.”
“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the RAF personnel and our emergency services colleagues who responded so swiftly yesterday,” the statement.
“Mark was a Typhoon pilot here at RAF Coningsby and for the last four years, he has been a pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A great friend, colleague, and a passionate, professional aviator he will be sorely missed by all that knew him,” he continued.