Drymen, United Kingdom: A Piper Tomahawk II light aircraft crashed north-east of Drymen in Scotland on October 16, 2026 killing a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man, Police Scotland confirmed.
Officers received a report of the crash at approximately 4:45 pm on Friday. Emergency services attended the scene, where both individuals were pronounced dead. Police said the next of kin of both victims had been informed.
In a statement, Police Scotland said: “Around 4.45pm on Friday, 16 October, 2026, officers received a report of a light aircraft crash north east of Drymen.” The force added: “Emergency services attended and a 16-year-old male youth and a 80-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene. Their next of kin are aware.”
The aircraft involved was a Piper Tomahawk II, registered as G-LFSU. It departed Glasgow Airport at 4:17 pm on Friday and stopped transmitting at approximately 4:37 pm, according to flight-tracking information reported by UK media.
Earlier that day, the aircraft had departed Cumbernauld Airport at 11:46 am and flown to Glasgow, a journey reported to have lasted around 15 minutes. It subsequently undertook a flight towards Newport-on-Tay, returning to Glasgow Airport before departing again for its final flight.
The aircraft crashed a few miles north-east of Drymen, in the Stirling area. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed its intended destination on the final flight or the circumstances immediately preceding the crash.
The aircraft has been linked in media reporting to Leading Edge Flight Training, which operates from Glasgow and Cumbernauld airports. The company’s role in the flight and the aircraft’s operating arrangements have not been independently confirmed by the investigating authorities.
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has opened a safety investigation into the accident and sent a team to the crash site near Drymen to examine the circumstances and gather evidence.
In its official statement published on October 17, the AAIB said: “An investigation has begun into an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred on 16 October 2026.”
The agency added: “A team has travelled to the accident site near Drymen, north of Glasgow, to make enquiries and gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a safety investigation.”
The investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events leading to the crash. No official finding on the cause has been announced.
Police Scotland said temporary airspace restrictions had been introduced over the Drymen area to allow investigators to carry out their work. The restrictions include drone operations and are expected to remain in place for a period while the investigation proceeds.
The force warned that flying within restricted airspace without authorisation is a criminal offence and urged the public to check applicable restrictions before operating aircraft or drones in the area.
Glasgow Airport also acknowledged the incident because the aircraft had departed from the airport.
Gavin Birch-Williams, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “We are aware of an incident involving a light aircraft that departed from Glasgow Airport.”
He added: “This is a deeply tragic event, and the thoughts and heartfelt sympathies from all at Glasgow Airport are with the friends and families affected.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released a confirmed cause of the crash or further details about the flight’s purpose.
