World's longest aircraft crashes in England - two injured

Two people have been injured after the world's longest aircraft, the Airlander 10, crashed in a field close to the aircraft hangars in Cardington, Bedfordshire .
Two staff members suffered minor injuries when the 92 metre long Airlander 10 broke free of its moorings. One woman was taken to hospital but has since been discharged and another person was injured "dealing with the aftermath" of the incident.
Manufacturers Hybrid Air Vehicles said the hull of the ship had been ripped open and the aircraft deflated when the breakage activated an automatic safety system.
The spokesman added: "Our initial assessment is that the aircraft broke free from its mooring mast for reasons that will be investigated".
"We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this nature can occur during this phase of development" he said.

The 92-meter-long prototype aircraft dubbed "The Flying Bum" cost around 100 million euros ($155,869,145 Aust) to get into the air before it crashed during its second flight.

Hybrid Air Vehicles had carried out test flights on Friday and everything went well, but the next day the prototype had malfunctioned.
Roads have been blocked around the area due to fears of helium gas and fuel leaks.
Hybrid Air Vehicles hoped the Airlander would be used for luxury commercial flights over the world's greatest sights from 2019. It can carry up to 60 passengers and 10 tons of cargo.
Earlier this year hundreds of people had gathered to witness the prototype preparing to take off in Cardington Airfield, but the Airlander’s mooring lines got tangled with power lines.


Aircraft Details are:
Operator: Hybrid Air Vehicles
Aircraft Type: Blimp/Dirigible
Engines: four diesel engine-driven ducted propellers
Registration: G-PHRG
Serial Number: CN 001
Flight Number:
First Flight: 7th August 2012

The Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 / Airlander 10 is a hybrid airship designed and built by British manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV). Comprising a helium airship with auxiliary wing and tail surfaces, it flies using both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift and is powered by four diesel engine-driven ducted propellers. The Airlander 10 is the largest aircraft flying today.
The HAV 304 was originally built for the United States Army's Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) programme. In 2012, the HAV 304 conducted its maiden flight at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in the United States. In 2013, the LEMV project was cancelled by the US Army.
HAV reacquired the airship and brought it back to RAF Cardington in England. It was reassembled and modified for civilian use, and in this form was redesignated as the Airlander 10. In August 2016, the reassembled airship returned to the skies. Following an accident and repairs, the airship was relaunched in December 2016. (Wikipedia)