Airlander 10 crashes during second test flight

The 92-metre-long Airlander was damaged during the flight from RAF Cardington airfield, Bedfordshire

Airlander 10, the world's largest aircraft, has crashed during its second test flight.

The 92-metre-long Airlander was damaged during the flight from RAF Cardington airfield, Bedfordshire, with photographs showing it on the ground with its nose pointing towards the floor.

Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), which is developing the Airlander 10, denied reports it had crashed into a telegraph pole in nearby fields.

In a statement released following the crash, HAV said: “Today the prototype Airlander 10 undertook its second test flight and flew for 100 minutes, completing all the planned tasks before returning to Cardington to land. The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed."

Despite the crash, both HAV said both pilots and the ground crew are safe and well and the aircraft is secured and stable at its normal mooring location. HAV added: "Hybrid Air Vehicles runs a robust set of procedures for flight test activities and investigation of issues. We will be running through these in the days ahead as we continue the development of the Airlander aircraft. Further updates will follow in due course."

The company also tweeted following the crash: “Airlander sustained damage on landing during today’s flight. No damage was sustained mid-air or as a result of a telegraph pole as reported."

First developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft, the British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the sky after it fell foul of defence cutbacks.

Airlander was able to exit the hangar for its first flight following permission to conduct its first series of flight tests by both European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Being the largest aircraft in the world, exiting the hangar was a very delicate operation as there was only a six metre clearance from the fin tip to the sides of the hangar doors. It took around five minutes for the Airlander to clear the hangar and then a further 30 minutes for her be towed to rest at the primary mast site - one of the two that have been specially prepared for her on the airfield.