A major emergency response took place after a light aircraft crashed near Fife Airport.
Emergency services were on the scene of the incident near Blythe’s Tower on the hill north Kinglassie.
The alarm was raised just after 11.30am on Monday and members of the public were asked to avoid the area.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We have crews with two pumps in attendance by Fife airfield.
“We were called at 11.38am.
“It is a police-led investigation.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Emergency services are in attendance near Fife Airport after a light aircraft crashed at 11.40am on Monday.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 11:37am to attend an incident near Kinglassie, Fife.
“We dispatched multiple resources to the scene.”
Witness hears ‘failing sound’ before seeing aircraft crash
One Kinglassie local who witnessed the plane crash told The Courier he was first aware of the aircraft after hearing the “failing sound” of the aircraft’s engine.
Moments later he witnessed it crash to the ground.
Another local business owner said she heard a ‘thud-like impact’ as the aircraft came to the ground.
She said: “I heard a very strange thud-like impact sound and initially thought a passing car had clipped a parked vehicle.
“I ran out and a neighbour said he’d just seen a small aircraft crash on the brow of the hill at the back of the park.
“Police and fire engines started arriving shortly after.
“Then ambulances arrived and police officers closed off the access to the park.
“I watched as police, ambulance staff and firefighters tracked up the steep hill to where the plane had come down.”
White debris from the aircraft is visible from the park and crash investigators can be seen continuing their investigation as a probe gets underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Onlooker spots wreckage at Kinglassie crash scene
An onlooker said a Coastguard helicopter left the scene at around 12.50pm.
“The crash site is on the top of the hill behind the bowling green, north of Kinglassie.
“I can’t see it because the police have sealed off all the farmland in the area.
“But I can see a wing tip or part of a tail poking out of the top of a bush on the hill.
“There are five police officers and three fire service personnel at the wreckage site.
“There are six police cars and a couple of fire engines here.”
They added: “There is also one ambulance in the playing field next to the bowling green with its doors open.
“There are more fire service personnel walking around making their way to and from the crash site
“The traffic is moving okay through Kinglassie. It is being directed by a policeman.
“I hope there haven’t been any casualties.”
The Courier has been unable to reach anyone at Fife Airport for comment.
UPDATE: Pilot, 50, dies after light aircraft crashes into Fife hillside
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