Nigel Farage Plane Crash: The Full Story

On 6 May 2010, during the UK general election campaign, Nigel Farage—then leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP)—was involved in a dramatic light aircraft crash that nearly cost him his life. Farage had boarded a two-seater PZL-104 Wilga aircraft at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield in Northamptonshire to tow a large “Vote for Your Country – Vote UKIP” banner over constituencies on polling day.

Cause of the Crash

Shortly after takeoff, the rope attaching the banner became entangled around the plane’s tail fin and rudder, severely impairing the aircraft’s control. The plane began to pitch violently before nosediving into a nearby field. Eyewitnesses reported it “fell out of the sky” and flipped forward on impact, leaving the wreckage crumpled and the banner strewn across the grass.

The Pilot

The aircraft was piloted by Justin Adams, an experienced flyer who also sustained serious injuries in the crash, including severe spinal damage. Adams had to be cut from the wreckage by emergency crews and airlifted to hospital.

Nigel Farage’s Injuries

Although Farage was conscious when rescuers arrived, his injuries were extensive:

• Punctured lung

• Fractured sternum

• Several broken ribs

• Chipped vertebrae

• Cuts and heavy bruising

Farage was taken to Horton General Hospital in Banbury, where he underwent X-rays and treatment. He later said he drifted in and out of consciousness in the immediate aftermath.

The Cigarette Remark

True to his often irreverent personality, Farage later joked that his first instinct after escaping the wreckage was to light a cigarette, before realizing the danger of doing so near leaking aviation fuel. This remark became one of the most remembered anecdotes from the incident.

Aftermath and Reflection

Farage described his survival as “miraculous” and said the experience changed his outlook on life. Despite the trauma, he returned to the campaign trail quickly, using the event as an example of his resilience. The official investigation concluded that the crash was caused by the banner becoming tangled, leaving the pilot unable to maintain control.