An appeal for witnesses and footage following yesterday's light aircraft crash

A cordon remains in place today following yesterday’s light aircraft crash at Grewelthorpe, near Masham.

At 12.21pm yesterday (Wednesday 18 February 2026), we received a report that a light aircraft had crashed within the grounds of the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, which was closed to the public at the time of the incident.

Emergency services responded immediately. On arrival, they located a single occupant, a man in his 20s inside the aircraft. The man remains in hospital in a serious condition. No-one else is believed to have been on board the aircraft.

We are now working alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), who have today attended the scene and launched their own investigation.

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw the aircraft prior to the incident, to come forward. If you have any footage of the incident — including mobile phone or dashcam footage of the aircraft while airborne — please do not share it on social media. Instead, contact us directly.

If you have any information please email [email protected] or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, ask for Matthew Wilkinson.

Please quote reference 12260030318 when providing information.