UKIP's Nigel Farage in plane crash

UKIP's Nigel Farage, who is contesting Speaker John Bercow's seat in Buckingham in Britain's general election, has been involved a plane crash, it has been reported. Farage a Member of the European Parliament was not seriously injured in the crash, a UKIP spokeswoman said. "He's going to be fine," the spokeswoman said. Police said the plane came down shortly after 08:00 local time at an airfield in Northamptonshire. 

The pilot had to be cut out of the wreckage and has been airlifted to a hospital in Coventry. Farage is said to have walked from the crash relatively unscathed. Police said neither had life-threatening injuries. 

The plane, which had taken off 10 minutes prior to the crash, was pulling a UKIP banner reading "Vote for your country - vote UKIP". It is believed the banner may have become caught up in the engine.

Farage, who is MEP for the south east region of England announced last year that he would contest Speaker Bercow's seat in this election. None of the main three political parties are fielding a candidate in the Buckingham constituency in keeping with convention [Reuters / Sky News / BBC].

tvnewswatch, Beijing, China